D.C. Circuit US Court of Appeals Case Law

The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit encompasses the smallest geographic area of any of the federal circuits with appellate jurisdiction over the District of Columbia. Despite its size, the court has been a major influence on US law and frequently hears litigation involving US federal agencies.

More information regarding the history of the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit can be found at The Historical Society of the District of Columbia Circuit.

Browse Opinions From the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
Recent Decisions From the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
Sierra Club v. FERC  
Date: May 26, 2023
Docket Number: 20-1512

Justia Opinion Summary: Mountain Valley Pipeline, LLC has been trying to build its eponymous Mountain Valley Pipeline through West Virginia and Virginia. In 2017, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission first issued a certificate approving the…

Michael Lissack v. Cmsnr. IRS  
Date: May 26, 2023
Docket Number: 21-1268

Justia Opinion Summary: Appellant claimed the IRS owes him a whistleblower award under subsection 7623(b)(1), and he argued that the Treasury regulation on which the IRS relied to decide otherwise contravenes the text of the statute. Appellant…

Luis Villa-Arce v. Cmsnr. IRS  
Date: May 26, 2023
Docket Number: 22-1006

Justia Opinion Summary: Appellant sent information to the Whistleblower Office of the Internal Revenue Service that he believed showed a company was underpaying taxes by taking unjustified deductions and using improper pricing practices.…

Terri Wright v. Eugene & Agnes E. Meyer Foundation  
Date: May 23, 2023
Docket Number: 22-7004

Justia Opinion Summary: Plaintiff is the former Vice President of Program and Community of the Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer Foundation. She received largely positive feedback during her tenure, but less than two years after she was hired, the CEO…

Campaign Legal Center v. FEC  
Date: May 19, 2023
Docket Number: 22-5140

Justia Opinion Summary: Heritage Action for America appeals the denial of its post-judgment motion to intervene as of right, in Campaign Legal Center’s challenge to the Federal Election Commission’s failure to act on its administrative…

Center for Biological Diversity v. FERC  
Date: May 16, 2023
Docket Number: 20-1379

Justia Opinion Summary: The Alaska Gasline Development Corporation sought authorization to build and operate a system of natural gas facilities. After the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission granted that authorization, the Center for…

GPA Midstream Association v. DOT  
Date: May 16, 2023
Docket Number: 22-1148

Justia Opinion Summary: The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) prescribe safety standards for pipelines on behalf of the Secretary of Transportation. Two oil and gas associations, GPA Midstream and the American…

USA v. Paul Guertin  
Date: May 16, 2023
Docket Number: 22-3011

Justia Opinion Summary: A grand jury charged Appellee with wire fraud and obstructing an official proceeding. Appellee moved to dismiss the indictment for failure to state an offense. The district court granted the motion, and the Government…

I.M. v. United States Customs and Border Protection  
Date: May 12, 2023
Docket Number: 22-5071

Justia Opinion Summary: The Government removed Appellant from the United States. Back in his home country, Appellant filed a habeas petition, arguing that his removal was unlawful. The district court dismissed Appellant’s petition. It concluded…

NRDC v. Michael Regan  
Date: May 9, 2023
Docket Number: 20-1335

Justia Opinion Summary: In 2011, the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) issued its “final determination to regulate perchlorate in drinking water” under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Drinking Water: Regulatory Determination on Perchlorate.…

Omar Khadr v. United States  
Date: May 9, 2023
Docket Number: 21-1218

Justia Opinion Summary: Petitioner is a former Guantanamo Bay detainee. He asked the DC Circuit to vacate his convictions for war crimes—including providing material support to terrorism and murder of a United States soldier in violation of the…

Steven Greenbaum v. Islamic Republic of Iran  
Date: May 9, 2023
Docket Number: 22-5080

Justia Opinion Summary: The United States seized oil cargo it claims belongs to the Islamic Republic of Iran. Appellants attached the oil in order to satisfy money judgments they hold against Iran. The district court upheld the United States'…

John Crim v. Cmsnr. IRS  
Date: May 2, 2023
Docket Number: 21-1260

Justia Opinion Summary: The Internal Revenue Service assessed penalties pursuant to 26 U.S.C. Section 6700 against Appellant in connection with his promotion of a tax shelter scheme. Appellant filed a motion to recuse and disqualify all Tax…

Damien Guedes v. ATF (ORDER IN SLIP OPINION FORMAT)
Date: May 2, 2023
Docket Number: 21-5045
Keren Kayemeth Leisrael - Jewish National Fund v. Education for a Just Peace in the Middle East  
Date: May 2, 2023
Docket Number: 21-7097

Justia Opinion Summary: Appellants are victims of terrorist attacks allegedly perpetrated by the Islamic Resistance Movement, colloquially known as “Hamas.” Appellants assert that Hamas and affiliated groups are responsible for launching…

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