Court Decisions

All of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit's published and unpublished opinions are available online or by contacting the Clerk's office.

Opinions

An Opinion is a published decision the court issues when a case helps explain, clarify, or develop the law. Because it’s published, it becomes binding law that future Ninth Circuit cases must follow.

Memorandum Dispositions

A Memorandum Disposition is a shorter, unpublished decision used for cases that don’t change or clarify the law. It isn’t binding precedent, though it may be cited in limited situations.