⚖ Oral Arguments, with Context

The Ninth Circuit hears a challenge to Robert Conrady's military convictions for sexually abusing children. His defense was that contentious family custody disputes gave the accusers a motive to make false allegations. He now argues his lawyers failed to present evidence supporting that defense and showing the children were unreliable witnesses. Challenging a witness's credibility is called impeachment. The government will argue counsel already pursued that defense and additional testimony would have added little. Conrady seeks habeas corpus relief, which challenges the legality of his custody after the military proceedings. A federal district court denied his petition, and he now appeals. Ineffective assistance requires both unreasonable legal representation and a reasonable probability of a different outcome without the errors. Another issue is procedural default: the government's argument that these claims should have been raised earlier in military court. Conrady disputes that the earlier route was clearly available.

Conrady v. Bradley, et al. (No. 25-2318) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, argued October 30, 2026.