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Message from the Chief
 Chief Circuit JudgeMary H. MurguiaThe 2025 Ninth Circuit Annual Report profiles the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and the federal district and bankruptcy courts in the nine most western states, including Alaska, Hawaii, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and the U.S. Territory of Guam.
Looking back on 2025, I remain grateful for and impressed by the commitment of those working for and with the Ninth Circuit to support the administration of justice in the West. 2025 proved a challenging and fulfilling year for the Ninth Circuit Courts. We remember the deadly wildfires in January that burned across the Los Angeles metropolitan area and parts of San Diego County, causing widespread destruction and displacement. Our court community—particularly judges and staff at the Richard H. Chambers Courthouse in Pasadena and throughout the Central District of California—remained resilient as many in the region lost their homes and entire neighborhoods to the fires. A retrospective is found on page 24 of this report. We also found moments to celebrate in 2025, including the District Court of Guam’s 75th Anniversary and the 150th anniversary of the Pioneer Courthouse in Portland—both milestones are highlighted in this report on pages 30 and 36, respectively.
My role as chief judge allows me the opportunity to serve this circuit as presiding judge of the 11-judge en banc court, and as chair of both the Executive Committee of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and the Judicial Council of the Ninth Circuit—the policy making bodies within this circuit. Additionally, I represent this circuit at various national meetings and events, including at the Judicial Conference of the United States, the national policy making body of the federal courts.
As chief, I also have the privilege to report on the venerable work and judicial milestones occurring within our circuit. It is my honor to acknowledge the judges we welcomed and those we lost in 2025. Congratulations and welcome to Circuit Judge Eric C. Tung; four district judges: Benjamin J. Cheeks, Southern District of California; Sharad H. Desai, District of Arizona; William W. Mercer, District of Montana; and Serena R. Murillo, Central District of California; Bankruptcy Judge Brent R. Wilson, District of Idaho; and five magistrate judges: Michael B. Kaufman and Daniel S. Roberts, Central District of California; James E. Marner, District of Arizona; Amy E. Potter, District of Oregon; and Brian J. White, Southern District of California. Their biographies start on page 7 of this report.
In 2025, we also saw the passing of several judges throughout the circuit. We will miss Senior Circuit Judges Andrew J. Kleinfeld and Sandra S. Ikuta; Senior District Judges Carolyn R. Dimmick, Western District of Washington; Sam E. Haddon, District of Montana; Michael R. Hogan (Ret.), Robert E. Jones, and Malcolm F. Marsh, District of Oregon; William D. Keller, Central District of California; Alex R. Munson, District of the Northern Mariana Islands; Chief Bankruptcy Judge Theodor C. Albert, Central District of California; Retired Bankruptcy Judges Robin L. Riblet, Central District of California and David E. Russell, Eastern District of California; and retired Magistrate Judges James P. Donohue, Western District of Washington and Robert M. Holter, District of Montana. These judges impacted us throughout their storied judicial careers, and a tribute to those judges begins on page 12.
The circuit also welcomes new Chief District Judge Cynthia A. Bashant, Southern District of California, and several new chief bankruptcy judges: Julia W. Brand, Central District of California; Natalie M. Cox, District of Nevada; Christopher D. Jaime, Eastern District of California; and Peter C. McKittrick, District of Oregon. In addition to their judicial duties, chief judges serve a critical role in the management and the administration of justice in their respective courts. Additionally, Bankruptcy Judge Jennifer E. Niemann, Eastern District of California, was appointed to serve on the Bankruptcy Appellate Panel, the appellate body that reviews appeals from judgments, orders, and decrees entered by bankruptcy judges from districts within the Ninth Circuit.
Many of our judges received awards for their exceptional service, leadership and commitment to our justice system. See page 48 for a listing of awards and recognitions. In addition to acknowledging our judges, I also commend the many professionals who support the judges and assist with administrative management of this circuit’s immense workload. Our court of appeals continued to be the nation’s busiest federal appellate court, accounting for 22.8% of all new appeals nationally, with 9,544 appeals, up 17.2% from fiscal year 2024. There were 72,629 new filings in our district courts, up 12.8% from fiscal year 2024. Total bankruptcy filings in the circuit were 95,430, up 14.2% from FY 2024, higher than the national increase of 10.6% in bankruptcy filings.
This report provides further detailed statistical summaries and emphasizes important events and trends that span the 15 district courts in our circuit, including the 2025 Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference in Monterey, California, which brought together judges and lawyers from around the circuit. Highlights included visits by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan and Judge Robert J. Conrad, director of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. You can read more about the Conference on page 43.
During the Conference, we also celebrated the young winners of the 2025 Ninth Circuit Civics Contest. The Ninth Circuit Public Information and Community Outreach (PICO) Committee sponsors this contest annually for high school students across our circuit. More about the celebration can be found on page 45. The winning essay and video submissions for the 2025 theme, “When Duty Calls: Why Exercising the Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship is Important to Me,” can be found on the civics contest website, https://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/civicscontest.
This annual report provides additional details on the great work of our Ninth Circuit judges, staff, and the legal community. It is an honor to collaborate with these colleagues who tirelessly support the administration of justice. I extend my sincerest gratitude for their commitment to public service and civic responsibility, and I commend the immensely important work they accomplished in 2025.
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