⚖ Oral Arguments, with Context

Real court arguments, crisp audio, with context.

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Richard Cornelius Jackson v. DHS — 7th Cir. (Sep 18, 2026)

No. 25-3057 Argued September 18, 2026 Published September 19, 2026

The Seventh Circuit hears Richard Cornelius Jackson versus the Department of Homeland Security. Jackson brought two whistleblower-retaliation appeals to the Merit Systems Protection Board. One concerned a five-day suspension; the other concerned a 2023 performance appraisal he called punitively low. After an administrative judge issued initial decisions, Jackson sought review in the Seventh Circuit. The present fight centers on whether Homeland Security proved by clear and convincing evidence that it would have given him the same rating without retaliation, and whether he exhausted two additional claims. The panel also raises an unbriefed threshold question: whether the judge's decision could become a final Board decision while the Board lacked a quorum.

Richard Cornelius Jackson v. DHS (No. 25-3057) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, argued September 18, 2026.

Sources
Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit (public domain, 17 U.S.C. § 105):https://media.ca7.uscourts.gov/sound/external/ef.25-3057.25-3057_09_18_2026.mp3
Argument listing — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit:https://media.ca7.uscourts.gov/oralArguments/oar.jsp?amonth=09%2F2026&aMonth=List+case%28s%29
Appellate docket — Justia mirror:https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/ca7/25-3057
2024 mandamus order — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit:https://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/opinions-orders/24-145.ORDER.12-11-2024_2433896.pdf
2025 mandamus order — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit:https://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/opinions-orders/25-136.ORDER.7-18-2025_2546587.pdf
Carr-factor opinion — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit:https://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/opinions-orders/23-1552.OPINION.1-17-2025_2452529.pdf
Whistleblower law report — U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board:https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GOVPUB-MS-PURL-gpo25177/pdf/GOVPUB-MS-PURL-gpo25177.pdf
5 U.S.C. § 1221 — U.S. Code:https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title5-section1221&num=0&edition=prelim
5 U.S.C. § 7703 — U.S. Code:https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title5-section7703&num=0&edition=prelim
5 C.F.R. § 1201.113 — eCFR:https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-5/chapter-II/part-1201/subpart-C/section-1201.113
An Hoang attorney profile — State Bar of California:https://apps.calbar.ca.gov/attorney/Licensee/Detail/331250
An Hoang counsel identification — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit:https://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/opinions-orders/25-1614.OPINION.11-13-2025_2603138.pdf

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