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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.

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Oceana, Inc. v. National Marine Fisheries Service, et al. — 9th Cir. (Aug 10, 2026) Aug 12, 2026

Show notes

The Ninth Circuit reviews how federal fishery managers measured damage from bottom trawling in the Gulf of Alaska. Bottom trawling tows a net along the seafloor, where it can damage slow-growing coral and sponges. The Magnuson-Stevens Act requires fishery plans to identify essential fish habitat, areas fish need to spawn, feed, or grow, and minimize adverse fishing effects to the extent practicable. Oceana says the agency's five-year updates unlawfully screened for harm using core habitat, the top half of predicted habitat use, and a minimum stock-size threshold, a population-level indicator. The agency says its full model covered the entire region and those metrics were only scientific indicators. First, Oceana must show standing: an actual member injury caused by the updates and likely redressable by the court. Oceana, Inc. v. National Marine Fisheries Service, et al. (No. 25-7689) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, argued August 10, 2026. Sources: Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit: https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/media/2026/08/10/25-7689.mp3 Argument calendar — Ninth Circuit: https://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/cases/calendar/calendar-sitting/?casenum=25-7689 District-court decision — GovInfo: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-akd-3_24-cv-00180/pdf/USCOURTS-akd-3_24-cv-00180-0.pdf Appellate briefs — North Pacific Fishery Management Council: https://meetings.npfmc.org/CommentReview/DownloadFile?fileName=B3+Litigation+Report+Oceana+v+NMFS.pdf&p=d68040bd-90f5-445d-addd-1b6367767867.pdf District-court filings — North Pacific Fishery Management Council: https://meetings.npfmc.org/CommentReview/DownloadFile?fileName=B3+Litigation+Report+Oceana+v+NMFS+EFH.pdf&p=b7425d09-feec-4fd9-ad79-068f465d9474.pdf 16 U.S.C. § 1853 — U.S. House of Representatives: https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:16%20section:1853%20edition:prelim) 5 U.S.C. § 706 — U.S. House of Representatives: https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:5%20section:706%20edition:prelim) Fishing gear: bottom trawls — NOAA Fisheries: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/bycatch/fishing-gear-bottom-trawls Deep-sea coral habitat — NOAA Fisheries: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/habitat-conservation/deep-sea-coral-habitat

Trigueros Quizar v. Blanche — 9th Cir. (Aug 11, 2026) Aug 12, 2026

Show notes

The Ninth Circuit considers whether Angel Trigueros Quizar should get another immigration hearing. An immigration judge ordered him removed in absentia after he missed a remote hearing in Reno; he says a flat tire made him about five minutes late. In absentia means the order was entered because he did not appear. Federal law allows reopening within one hundred eighty days when exceptional circumstances caused the absence. Ninth Circuit precedent generally treats facts in a motion to reopen as true unless inherently unbelievable. The dispute is whether the agency had to accept the flat-tire account or could demand corroboration and weigh earlier missed deadlines. The court also considers the agency's refusal to accept a late administrative appeal brief. Trigueros Quizar v. Blanche (No. 24-4847) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, argued August 11, 2026. Sources: Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit: https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/media/2026/08/11/24-4847.mp3 Argument calendar — Ninth Circuit: https://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/cases/calendar/calendar-sitting/?casenum=24-4847 Appeal docket — Justia Dockets: https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/ca9/24-4847 8 U.S.C. § 1229a — U.S. House of Representatives: https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=%28title%3A8+section%3A1229a+edition%3Aprelim%29 Perez-Portillo v. Garland — Ninth Circuit: https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2022/12/30/20-73486.pdf Montejo-Gonzalez v. Bondi — Ninth Circuit: https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2026/02/05/21-304.pdf Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure — U.S. Courts: https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-appellate-procedure Kyle Edgerton — Edgerton Legal: https://edgertonlegal.com/elbio.html Office of Immigration Litigation — U.S. Department of Justice: https://www.justice.gov/civil/office-immigration-litigation

Pasiecznik v. Home Depot USA, Inc. — 9th Cir. (Aug 11, 2026) Aug 12, 2026

Show notes

The Ninth Circuit reviews summary judgment for Home Depot in William Pasiecznik's negligence suit. He says a store employee assaulted him in a Las Vegas parking lot and caused spinal and other injuries. Summary judgment ends a case without trial when no genuine dispute of material fact remains. The district court found his account contradicted by photographs and immediate medical records, and found no admissible evidence linking later injuries to the incident. Pasiecznik says the court judged credibility and ignored treating-doctor evidence. Under Rule 26, a treating doctor may give opinions formed during treatment with a shorter disclosure; a litigation opinion generally requires a full expert report. The parties dispute which kind of causation opinion Doctor Muir offered. They also dispute spoliation, the loss or destruction of evidence a party had a duty to preserve, involving alleged surveillance video. Pasiecznik v. Home Depot USA, Inc. (No. 25-2235) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, argued August 11, 2026. Sources: Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit: https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/media/2026/08/11/25-2235.mp3 Argument calendar — Ninth Circuit: https://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/cases/calendar/calendar-sitting/?casenum=25-2235 Appeal docket — Justia Dockets: https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/ca9/25-2235 Summary-judgment order — District of Nevada via Justia Dockets: https://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/nevada/nvdce/2%3A2020cv02202/147234/150 Expert-disclosure order — District of Nevada via Justia Dockets: https://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/nevada/nvdce/2%3A2020cv02202/147234/103 Federal Rules of Civil Procedure — U.S. Courts: https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-civil-procedure Jerome Bowen — Bowen Law Offices: https://www.lvlawfirm.com/attorney/jerome-r-bowen/

Los Molinos Mutual Water Company, et al. v. Ekdahl, et al. — 9th Cir. (Aug 11, 2026) Aug 12, 2026

Show notes

The Ninth Circuit reviews the dismissal of constitutional claims over California's 2021 and 2022 drought restrictions on Mill and Deer Creeks. Three companies with senior water rights say emergency rules and curtailment orders took their water without compensation and denied them an individual hearing. Procedural due process distinguishes legislative action from adjudication: a general rule usually needs no individual hearing, while a decision focused on a few people on individual grounds may. The district court treated the restrictions as legislative because they applied to all twenty-two water-right holders on the two creeks. The companies also seek prospective relief against state officials. Sovereign immunity generally shields states from private suits in federal court, but Ex parte Young permits prospective relief against officials for an ongoing violation of federal law. The companies say that exception applies; the officials say the requested takings relief remains barred. Los Molinos Mutual Water Company, et al. v. Ekdahl, et al. (No. 25-2302) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, argued August 11, 2026. Sources: Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit: https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/media/2026/08/11/25-2302.mp3 Argument calendar — Ninth Circuit: https://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/cases/calendar/calendar-sitting/?casenum=25-2302 Appeal docket — Justia Dockets: https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/ca9/25-2302 September 2023 district-court order — GovInfo: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-caed-2_21-cv-01961/pdf/USCOURTS-caed-2_21-cv-01961-4.pdf May 2024 district-court order — GovInfo: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-caed-2_21-cv-01961/pdf/USCOURTS-caed-2_21-cv-01961-5.pdf Mill and Deer Creeks drought record — California State Water Board: https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/drought/mill_deer_creeks/ Ex parte Young — U.S. Reports: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USREPORTS-209/pdf/USREPORTS-209-123.pdf Bi-Metallic v. State Board — U.S. Reports: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USREPORTS-239/pdf/USREPORTS-239-441.pdf Jackson Minasian — Minasian Law: https://www.minasianlaw.com/about-us/

Shunevich, et al. v. Blanche — 9th Cir. (Aug 11, 2026) Aug 12, 2026

Show notes

The Ninth Circuit reviews a Russian family's request for asylum and protection from removal. The serious-nonpolitical-crime bar blocks asylum when there are serious reasons, roughly probable cause, to believe a person committed such a crime abroad. Anton Shunevich has a Russian drug-trafficking conviction, but says his credible testimony described buying two grams of marijuana for personal use. Matter of Y-L creates a strong presumption that drug-trafficking felonies are particularly serious, with a narrow exception for extraordinary small-scale conduct. The family says the agency should use those factors by analogy. The government says that is a different legal bar and that the conviction, guilty plea, and repeated purchases are enough here. The family also challenges the agency's rejection of claims based on Russian police threats and possible torture. Shunevich, et al. v. Blanche (No. 25-2454) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, argued August 11, 2026. Sources: Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit: https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/media/2026/08/11/25-2454.mp3 Argument listing — Ninth Circuit media archive: https://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/cases/streams-videos/archive?case=25-2454&hearingDate=2026-08-11 Argument calendar — Ninth Circuit: https://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/cases/calendar/calendar-sitting/?casenum=25-2454 Appeal docket — Justia Dockets: https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/ca9/25-2454 8 U.S.C. § 1158 — U.S. House of Representatives: https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?edition=prelim&num=0&req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title8-section1158 Relief from removal — Ninth Circuit immigration outline: https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/uploads/immigration/immig_west/B.%20Relief%20from%20Removal.htm Matter of Y-L- — U.S. Department of Justice: https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/eoir/legacy/2014/07/25/3464.pdf 8 C.F.R. § 1208.16 — eCFR: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-8/chapter-V/subchapter-B/part-1208/subpart-B/section-1208.16

Manion v. Strategic Funding Source, Inc. — 9th Cir. (Aug 11, 2026) Aug 12, 2026

Show notes

The Ninth Circuit considers whether Michael Manion can discharge a debt to Strategic Funding Source, which does business as Kapitus. Manion's company operated mobile bars for Anheuser-Busch and sought financing after that relationship had largely ended, without disclosing the change. The bankruptcy court found a fraudulent omission and held the debt nondischargeable. A bankruptcy discharge normally releases a debtor from qualifying debts. Section 523 keeps debts obtained by fraud from being discharged, but written statements about financial condition are governed by a separate rule. Manion says the lower courts used the wrong rule and the wrong standard for omissions. Kapitus says binding precedent and the trial findings support the judgment. Manion v. Strategic Funding Source, Inc. (No. 25-2507) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, argued August 11, 2026. Sources: Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit: https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/media/2026/08/11/25-2507.mp3 Argument listing — Ninth Circuit media archive: https://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/cases/streams-videos/archive?case=25-2507&hearingDate=2026-08-11 Manion v. Strategic Funding Source — Ninth Circuit BAP opinion: https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/bap/2025/03/19/24-1088.pdf 11 U.S.C. § 523 — U.S. House of Representatives: https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title11-section523&num=0&edition=prelim Troy Fox — Fox, Imes & Crosby: https://www.ficlegal.com/about-us/troy-fox/ Ryan Works — McDonald Carano: https://www.mcdonaldcarano.com/people/ryan-works/

Go Best, LLC v. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department — 9th Cir. (Aug 11, 2026) Aug 12, 2026

Show notes

The Ninth Circuit reviews the dismissal of Go Best's civil-rights claim against the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Nevada courts found that officers unlawfully searched Go Best's separate business suite and seized its laptop, then ordered the laptop returned. Go Best later sued for damages under Section 1983. Under the Supreme Court's Monell rule, a local government is liable only when its own policy causes a constitutional violation. A single decision can qualify when made by an official with final policymaking authority. Go Best says Metro's decisions to keep litigating and retaining the laptop make such an official's involvement plausible. Metro says the complaint identifies neither an official policy nor a final policymaker. The panel must first decide whether it has jurisdiction over the appeal. Go Best, LLC v. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (No. 25-3753) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, argued August 11, 2026. Sources: Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit: https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/media/2026/08/11/25-3753.mp3 Argument listing — Ninth Circuit media archive: https://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/cases/streams-videos/archive?case=25-3753&hearingDate=2026-08-11 Oral argument calendar — Ninth Circuit: https://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/cases/calendar/calendar-sitting/?casenum=25-3753 Appeal docket — Justia Dockets: https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/ca9/25-3753 District court docket — Justia Dockets: https://dockets.justia.com/docket/nevada/nvdce/2%3A2024cv00632/167864 Nevada appeal record — Nevada Appellate Courts: https://acis.nvcourts.gov/portal/court/74764f58-a87f-4ec5-8233-7a1255e410b3/case/708f32da-768e-4318-8859-ec7bec81b6d7 In re Go Best — Nevada Court of Appeals order: https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/crt-app-nev/114820348.html 42 U.S.C. § 1983 — U.S. House of Representatives: https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?edition=prelim&f=treesort&jumpTo=true%7C&num=0&req=%28title%3A42+section%3A1983+edition%3Aprelim%29+OR+%28granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title42-section1983%29 Monell v. Department of Social Services — U.S. Reports: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USREPORTS-436/pdf/USREPORTS-436-658.pdf Pembaur v. City of Cincinnati — U.S. Reports: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USREPORTS-475/pdf/USREPORTS-475-469.pdf Microsoft Corp. v. Baker — U.S. Reports: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USREPORTS-582/pdf/USREPORTS-582-23.pdf

Ricky Johnson v. Turner — 11th Cir. (Aug 11, 2026) Aug 12, 2026

Show notes

The Eleventh Circuit returns to Ricky Johnson's civil-rights case over delayed hepatitis C treatment in Georgia prisons. His suit alleged deliberate indifference, an Eighth Amendment violation in which a prison official knows of and disregards a serious medical risk. After trial, a jury awarded Johnson twenty thousand and one dollars against two defendants. The Prison Litigation Reform Act then limited the attorney's fees recoverable from those defendants and required Johnson to contribute part of his damages. He will ask the court to reconsider circuit precedent and hold that the fee cap's different treatment of prisoner plaintiffs violates equal protection, the constitutional rule against unjustified unequal treatment. Before reaching that issue, the court must decide whether he preserved the challenge and appealed on time. Ricky Johnson v. Turner (No. 24-11799) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, argued August 11, 2026. Sources: Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit: https://www.ca11.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/oral_argument_recordings/24-11799_08112026.mp3 Argument listing — Eleventh Circuit oral argument recordings: https://www.ca11.uscourts.gov/oral-argument-recordings?page=0 Johnson v. Lewis — prior Eleventh Circuit opinion: https://media.ca11.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/files/202010150.pdf Order on Ricky Johnson's fee petition — GovInfo: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-gamd-5_16-cv-00453/pdf/USCOURTS-gamd-5_16-cv-00453-12.pdf Appeal docket — Justia Dockets: https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/ca11/24-11799 42 U.S.C. § 1997e — U.S. House of Representatives: https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=%28title%3A42+section%3A1997e+edition%3Aprelim%29 Jackson v. State Board of Pardons and Paroles — Eleventh Circuit: https://media.ca11.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/files/200215545.pdf Farmer v. Brennan — U.S. Reports: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USREPORTS-511/pdf/USREPORTS-511-825.pdf Amanda Bradley — Bondurant Mixson & Elmore: https://bmelaw.com/our-team/amanda_bradley/ Johnson verdict and fee award — Prison Legal News: https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/news/2024/jul/1/15000-net-award-georgia-prisoners-delayed-hep-c-treatment/

Cortes Rodriguez v. Blanche — 9th Cir. (Aug 11, 2026) Aug 12, 2026

Show notes

The Ninth Circuit reviews the denial of immigration protection to Eduardo Cortes Rodriguez, a citizen of Mexico. The argument concerns two forms of protection. Withholding of removal can bar removal to a country where the applicant's life or freedom would be threatened for a protected reason, but a particularly serious crime can make the applicant ineligible. Protection under the Convention Against Torture requires proof that torture is more likely than not with government involvement or acquiescence. The court will examine how the agency applied those rules to Rodriguez's case. Cortes Rodriguez v. Blanche (No. 25-4049) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, argued August 11, 2026. Sources: Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit: https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/media/2026/08/11/25-4049.mp3 Argument listing — Ninth Circuit media archive: https://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/cases/streams-videos/archive?case=25-4049&hearingDate=2026-08-11 Oral argument calendar — Ninth Circuit: https://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/cases/calendar/calendar-sitting/?casenum=25-4049 Appeal docket — Justia Dockets: https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/ca9/25-4049 8 U.S.C. § 1231 — U.S. House of Representatives: https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?edition=prelim&req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title8-section1231 8 C.F.R. § 1208.16 — eCFR: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-8/chapter-V/subchapter-B/part-1208/subpart-B/section-1208.16 8 C.F.R. § 1208.18 — eCFR: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-8/chapter-V/subchapter-B/part-1208/subpart-B/section-1208.18 Mendoza-Garcia v. Garland — Ninth Circuit opinion: https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2022/06/10/20-73583.pdf Particularly serious crime precedents — U.S. Department of Justice: https://www.justice.gov/eoir/precedentchartrefend Armando Aguilar Lopez — State Bar of California: https://apps.calbar.ca.gov/attorney/Licensee/Detail/345704

United States v. Allen Pendergrass — 11th Cir. (Aug 11, 2026) Aug 12, 2026

Show notes

The Eleventh Circuit considers whether Allen Pendergrass can satisfy a mandatory two-year sentence for aggravated identity theft through home confinement rather than two years in prison. Pendergrass was convicted in a scheme that used forged documents to steal unclaimed funds. His first appeal upheld the convictions but returned the case for resentencing because the judge had not allowed allocution, the defendant's chance to speak before sentence is imposed. At resentencing, the judge concluded that Section 1028A required imprisonment. Pendergrass says home confinement on supervised release can meet that requirement. The government says it cannot. United States v. Allen Pendergrass (No. 25-10834) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, argued August 11, 2026. Sources: Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit: https://www.ca11.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/oral_argument_recordings/25-10834_08112026.mp3 Argument listing — Eleventh Circuit oral argument recordings: https://www.ca11.uscourts.gov/oral-argument-recordings?page=0 Prior Eleventh Circuit opinion: https://media.ca11.uscourts.gov/opinions/unpub/files/202213018.pdf Appeal docket — Justia Dockets: https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/ca11/25-10834 18 U.S.C. § 1028A — U.S. House of Representatives: https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title18-section1028A&num=0&edition=prelim United States v. Mangaroo — Eleventh Circuit opinion: https://media.ca11.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/files/200614766.pdf Sydney Strickland — Strickland Webster: https://www.stricklandwebster.com/sydney-strickland/ Gabriel A. Mendel — U.S. Department of Justice filing: https://www.justice.gov/crt/case-document/si-common-cause-v-kemp

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