In the interests of informing the public, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit welcomes media coverage of legal matters coming before the court.
In almost all cases, oral arguments before an appellate panel are open to the press and public. In certain high-profile cases, the court may reserve courtroom seating for the media. Reporters should contact the court to determine whether reserve seating is available.
Please Note that all oral argument sessions are live streamed to our website and the recordings are later posted on our website and are available to the public unless the hearing has been ordered sealed. No limitations are placed on the use of these livestreamed or recorded proceedings.
Further, electronic devices are permitted in the courtrooms, but photographs in the courtroom are prohibited while court is in session except with advance permission upon submission of a timely camera application form. You can view our electronic devices policy here.
The Ninth Circuit is transitioning to a new case management system called ACMS. You can find information about this new system here. Cases in both systems are accessed through PACER.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit is utilizing a new automated process for posting opinions and memorandum dispositions to the court’s website, which uploads them immediately as they are filed in each case rather than manually all at once at a designated time. Except for immediate filings that may happen at any time of day (about which the court will continue to alert the press by email), opinions will generally continue to be filed and posted between 10 a.m. or 11 a.m. Pacific Time, and by no later than 1 p.m. Pacific Time each day. With this new process, the court is no longer posting a notice that no opinions will be filed on a particular day. You can sign up here for an RSS feed that will alert you to the posting of opinions and dispositions as they are filed and posted.
