Government

Oral Arguments, with Context

Real court arguments, crisp audio, with context. Court recordings can be difficult to follow, and many suffer from poor audio quality. This podcast enhances the audio, provides a brief introduction to each case, and explains legal concepts that may be unfamiliar to some listeners. We hope these enhancements make oral argument recordings easier to understand, more accessible, and more enjoyable to listen to. Recordings come from the courts’ own public releases; Supreme Court timing is derived locally from the Court’s official transcript and audio.

Latest Episodes:

Caddo Systems, Inc. v. JetBrains Americas, Inc. — Fed. Cir. (Sep 10, 2026) Sep 11, 2026

Show notes

The Federal Circuit considers whether software claims for retaining and displaying a user's route through computer menus are patent eligible. The Delaware district court held Caddo Systems and 511 Technologies' asserted claims ineligible under Section 101. Under the Supreme Court's Alice test, a court first asks whether a claim is directed to an abstract idea and, if so, whether additional elements supply an inventive concept. The appeal also disputes whether one claim could stand in for the others. Caddo Systems, Inc. v. JetBrains Americas, Inc. (No. 25-1764) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, argued September 10, 2026. Sources: Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (public domain, 17 U.S.C. § 105): https://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/oral-arguments/25-1764_09102026.mp3 Argument listing — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit: https://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/home/oral-argument/listen-to-oral-arguments/ Argument calendar and counsel — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit: https://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/wp-content/uploads/OralArguments/PublicCalendar-September2026.pdf District court order — GovInfo: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-ded-1_22-cv-01033/pdf/USCOURTS-ded-1_22-cv-01033-2.pdf District court report and recommendation — GovInfo: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-ded-1_22-cv-01033/pdf/USCOURTS-ded-1_22-cv-01033-1.pdf Alice Corp. v. CLS Bank — Supreme Court of the United States: https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/boundvolumes/573BV.pdf Appellate docket — Justia: https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/cafc/25-1764 Aaron Kamlay — Butzel Long: https://www.butzel.com/professionals-aaron-kamlay

Grandinetti v. Tashjian — 2d Cir. (Sep 10, 2026) Sep 10, 2026

Show notes

The Second Circuit reviews John Grandinetti Junior's false-arrest and malicious-prosecution claims against New York State Police investigator Sean Tashjian. Police linked a Facebook account in Grandinetti's name and a Jeep registered to him to a suspected drug sale. Tashjian arrested him nearly a year later; the charges were later withdrawn. The district court entered summary judgment for Tashjian, finding probable cause and, alternatively, qualified immunity. The appeal asks whether the evidence supported those conclusions. Grandinetti v. Tashjian (No. 25-2617) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, argued September 10, 2026. Sources: Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (public domain, 17 U.S.C. § 105): https://ww3.ca2.uscourts.gov/audio/25-2617.mp3 Argument listing — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit: https://ww3.ca2.uscourts.gov/oral_arguments.html District court memorandum-decision and order — GovInfo: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-nynd-1_23-cv-00753/pdf/USCOURTS-nynd-1_23-cv-00753-0.pdf Appellate docket — Justia: https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/ca2/25-2617

Keeper Security, Inc. v. Keeper Tax Inc. — 7th Cir. (Sep 10, 2026) Sep 10, 2026

Show notes

The Seventh Circuit reviews a trademark verdict involving two businesses that use the name Keeper: Keeper Security, which protects passwords and files, and Keeper Tax, which offers tax-filing software. A jury found no likelihood of consumer confusion, and the district court denied Keeper Security's post-trial motions. The appeal focuses on Keeper Tax's federal registration certificate, the refusal to tell jurors what that certificate did and did not prove, and a juror's question about whether damages mattered if no infringement had occurred. Keeper Security, Inc. v. Keeper Tax Inc. (No. 25-3361) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, argued September 10, 2026. Sources: Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit (public domain, 17 U.S.C. § 105): https://media.ca7.uscourts.gov/sound/external/nv.25-3361.25-3361_09_10_2026.mp3 Argument listing — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit: https://media.ca7.uscourts.gov/oralArguments/oar.jsp?amonth=09%2F2026&aMonth=List+case%28s%29 Argument calendar — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit: https://media.ca7.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/oralArgCal/getOralArgCalendar.pl District court memorandum opinion — Justia: https://cases.justia.com/federal/district-courts/illinois/ilndce/1%3A2023cv01043/430553/151/0.pdf Appellate docket — Justia: https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/ca7/25-3361 Related cancellation filing — U.S. Patent and Trademark Office: https://ttabvue.uspto.gov/ttabvue/ttabvue-92082412-CAN-12.pdf Dean Niro — VVN Law: https://www.vvnlaw.com/our-attorneys Mark Bagley — Tolpin & Partners: https://tolpinlaw.com/our-attorneys/

Geoffrey Hansen, et al. v. Islamic Republic of Iran, et al. — D.C. Cir. (Sep 10, 2026) Sep 10, 2026

Show notes

The D.C. Circuit considers whether Iran's 2020 missile attack on al-Asad Air Base can count as an extrajudicial killing under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act when a servicemember later died by suicide after a traumatic brain injury. The district court dismissed the suit, holding that the Act's terrorism exception did not overcome Iran's immunity. The appeal turns on whether the statutory word killing can include suicide and whether the attack was close enough in the causal chain to the servicemember's death. Geoffrey Hansen, et al. v. Islamic Republic of Iran, et al. (No. 24-7101) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, argued September 10, 2026. Sources: Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit (public domain, 17 U.S.C. § 105): https://media.cadc.uscourts.gov/recordings/docs/2026/09/24-7101.mp3 Argument listing — U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit: https://media.cadc.uscourts.gov/recordings/bydate/2026/9 District court memorandum opinion — GovInfo: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-dcd-1_22-cv-00477/pdf/USCOURTS-dcd-1_22-cv-00477-0.pdf Appellate docket — Justia: https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/cadc/24-7101 Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act § 1605A — U.S. House Office of the Law Revision Counsel: https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title28-section1605A&num=0&edition=prelim Eliana R. “Eli” Werbel — University of Georgia School of Law: https://www.law.uga.edu/news/79857

Angel Namina Malan v. Antone Moniz, et al. — 1st Cir. (Sep 10, 2026) Sep 10, 2026

Show notes

The First Circuit reviews Angel Namina Malan's challenge to an immigration rule that kept him detained after an immigration judge granted bond. The rule automatically stayed his release when the Department of Homeland Security appealed the bond decision. Malan says the rule exceeded the Attorney General's authority and denied him due process. Angel Namina Malan v. Antone Moniz, et al. (No. 25-2093) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, argued September 10, 2026. Sources: Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit (public domain, 17 U.S.C. § 105): https://www.ca1.uscourts.gov/sites/ca1/files/oralargs/25-2093_20260910.mp3 Argument listing — U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit: https://www.ca1.uscourts.gov/doar/results/2026-09 September 2026 argument calendar — U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit: https://www.ca1.uscourts.gov/sites/ca1/files/calendar.pdf?simple=True District court memorandum and order — GovInfo: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-mad-1_25-cv-12570/pdf/USCOURTS-mad-1_25-cv-12570-0.pdf 8 C.F.R. § 1003.19 — eCFR: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-8/chapter-V/subchapter-A/part-1003/subpart-C/section-1003.19 William Locke — Quinn Emanuel: https://www.quinnemanuel.com/attorneys/locke-william/ Donald Lockhart counsel listing — Supreme Court filing: https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/25/25-6524/390742/20260105091146640_Amado%20-%20Cert%20of%20Service.pdf

ABC IP LLC v. Peak Tactical LLC — Fed. Cir. (Sep 10, 2026) Sep 10, 2026

Show notes

The Federal Circuit reviews a Wyoming court's denial of a preliminary injunction that would have stopped Peak Tactical from selling its Disruptor firearm trigger during a patent suit. ABC IP and Rare Breed Triggers say the district court mishandled claim construction, patent validity, and irreparable harm; Peak Tactical says the plaintiffs failed to provide the evidence required for preliminary relief. ABC IP LLC v. Peak Tactical LLC (No. 26-1527) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, argued September 10, 2026. Sources: Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (public domain, 17 U.S.C. § 105): https://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/oral-arguments/26-1527_09102026.mp3 Argument listing — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit: https://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/home/oral-argument/listen-to-oral-arguments/ September 2026 argument calendar — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit: https://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/wp-content/uploads/OralArguments/PublicCalendar-September2026.pdf Federal Circuit docket — Justia: https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/cafc/26-1527 District of Wyoming docket — Justia: https://dockets.justia.com/docket/wyoming/wydce/2:2026cv00018/72379 District court preliminary-injunction order — filed copy hosted by Partisan Triggers: https://partisantriggers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Denial-of-Rarebreeds-Request-For-TRO-PI.pdf John Thornburgh — Fish & Richardson: https://www.fr.com/team/john-w-thornburgh.pdf?locale=en Timothy Getzoff — Holland & Hart: https://www.hollandhart.com/tgetzoff

Zhicay v. Blanche — 2d Cir. (Sep 10, 2026) Sep 10, 2026

Show notes

The Second Circuit hears Jorge Ramiro Zhicay's challenge to the denial of cancellation of removal. The main question is whether an alleged legal error in the Board's good-moral-character analysis matters when the Board also denied relief as a matter of discretion. Zhicay v. Blanche (No. 25-849) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, argued September 10, 2026. Sources: Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (public domain, 17 U.S.C. § 105): https://ww3.ca2.uscourts.gov/audio/25-849.mp3 Argument listing — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit: https://ww3.ca2.uscourts.gov/oral_arguments.html PACER-derived docket snapshot — Docket Alarm: https://www.docketalarm.com/cases/US_Court_of_Appeals_Second_Circuit/25-849/Zhicay_v._Bondi/ 8 U.S.C. § 1229b — U.S. House Office of the Law Revision Counsel: https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?edition=prelim&num=0&req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title8-section1229b Matter of Ortega-Cabrera — Board of Immigration Appeals: https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/eoir/legacy/2014/07/25/3516.pdf Matter of C-V-T- — Board of Immigration Appeals: https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/eoir/legacy/2014/07/25/3342.pdf Mendez v. Holder — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit via Justia: https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/ca2/06-0032/06-0032-ag_opn-2011-03-27.html Paul Grotas — The Grotas Firm: https://grotaslaw.com/ Paul Grotas counsel listing — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit: https://www.opn.ca6.uscourts.gov/opinions.pdf/24a0055p-06.pdf Kristen Blosser counsel listing — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit: https://www.ca4.uscourts.gov/opinions/251558.U.pdf

Skywave Networks, LLC v. William DiSomma — 7th Cir. (Sep 10, 2026) Sep 10, 2026

Show notes

The Seventh Circuit considers whether Skywave Networks may bring a federal racketeering suit over experimental radio licenses issued by the FCC. Skywave says the appellees used false statements to obtain the licenses for 10Band, then used the network for commercial high-frequency trading and drove away Skywave's investors and partners. The appellees say the suit is really a challenge to FCC licensing decisions that must proceed through the agency and then the D.C. Circuit. The district court agreed and dismissed the case without prejudice for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction; Skywave appeals. Skywave Networks, LLC v. William DiSomma (No. 26-1015) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, argued September 10, 2026. Sources: Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit (public domain, 17 U.S.C. § 105): https://media.ca7.uscourts.gov/sound/external/nv.26-1015.26-1015_09_10_2026.mp3 Argument listing — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit: https://media.ca7.uscourts.gov/oralArguments/oar.jsp?amonth=09%2F2026&aMonth=List+case%28s%29 Argument calendar — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit: https://media.ca7.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/oralArgCal/getOralArgCalendar.pl District court memorandum opinion — Justia: https://cases.justia.com/federal/district-courts/illinois/ilndce/1%3A2024cv09650/465826/119/0.pdf Appellate docket — Justia: https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/ca7/26-1015 47 U.S.C. § 402 — U.S. House Office of the Law Revision Counsel: https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?edition=2023&num=0&req=granuleid%3AUSC-2023-title47-section402 Justin Wilcox — Desmarais: https://www.desmaraisllp.com/appellate-practice Kannon Shanmugam — Davis Polk: https://www.davispolk.com/lawyers/kannon-shanmugam

Emilia Kuentz v. CACI International Inc. — D.C. Cir. (Sep 10, 2026) Sep 10, 2026

Show notes

The D.C. Circuit considers two pay disputes between federal contract workers and CACI International. The workers say cash paid instead of fringe benefits should count when overtime is calculated. They also seek unpaid prevailing wages under D.C. law; CACI says the Service Contract Act leaves that dispute to the Labor Department. The district court dismissed the complaint, and the workers appeal. Emilia Kuentz v. CACI International Inc. (No. 25-7171) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, argued September 10, 2026. Sources: Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit (public domain, 17 U.S.C. § 105): https://media.cadc.uscourts.gov/recordings/docs/2026/09/25-7171.mp3 Argument listing — U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit: https://media.cadc.uscourts.gov/recordings/bydate/2026/9 District court memorandum opinion — Justia: https://cases.justia.com/federal/district-courts/district-of-columbia/dcdce/1:2024cv02496/272255/25/0.pdf Appellate docket — Justia: https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/cadc/25-7171 Amicus brief supporting the workers — MWELA: https://www.mwela.org/assets/AmicusBriefs/MWELA_Amicus_KuentzCarpvCaciInt_20260331.pdf Service Contract Act § 6707 — U.S. House Office of the Law Revision Counsel: https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?edition=prelim&num=0&req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title41-section6707%28c%29 D.C. Code § 32-1305 — D.C. Law Library: https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/32-1305 Service Contract Act compliance guide — U.S. Department of Labor: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/government-contracts/prevailing-wage-resource-book/sca-compliance-principles Thomas Eiler — Zipin, Amster & Greenberg: https://zagfirm.com/employment-attorneys/thomas-eiler-attorney/ Bryan Killian — Morgan Lewis: https://www.morganlewis.com/bios/bryankillian

South Carolina Coastal Conservation League v. United States Army Corps of Engineers — 4th Cir. (Sep 10, 2026) Sep 10, 2026

Show notes

The Fourth Circuit considers whether the Army Corps of Engineers adequately proved that a permit allowing one hundred eighty one acres of wetlands to be filled for the Cainhoy development near Charleston reflects the least environmentally damaging practicable alternative. The conservation groups say the Corps never established why a smaller footprint would be impracticable. The federal defendants and developers respond that the Corps considered fourteen alternatives and reasonably rejected the groups' Dover Plan as impracticable. South Carolina Coastal Conservation League v. United States Army Corps of Engineers (No. 25-1797) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, argued September 10, 2026. Sources: Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (public domain, 17 U.S.C. § 105): https://www.ca4.uscourts.gov/OAarchive/mp3/25-1797-20260910.mp3 Argument listing — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit: https://www.ca4.uscourts.gov/oral-argument/oral-argument-audio-files Argument calendar — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit: https://www.ca4.uscourts.gov/cal/internetcalSept102026.pdf Brief index — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit: https://www.ca4.uscourts.gov/DataBriefs.aspx?CASENUM=25-1797 District court summary-judgment order — Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=2476216991648329104 Earlier opinion in the same litigation — Fourth Circuit via GovInfo: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-ca4-24-01942/pdf/USCOURTS-ca4-24-01942-0.pdf Appellate docket — Justia: https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/ca4/25-1797 Catherine Wannamaker — Southern Environmental Law Center: https://www.selc.org/staff/catherine-wannamaker/ M. Rhett DeHart — Womble Bond Dickinson: https://www.womblebonddickinson.com/us/insights/news/102nenq/best-lawyers-honors-490-womble-attorneys-across-2026-editions Clean Water Act citizen-suit provision — U.S. Code via GovInfo: https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/33/1365 Administrative Procedure Act review — U.S. Code via GovInfo: https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/5/704

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