⚖ Oral Arguments, with Context

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United States v. Walji — 9th Cir. (Aug 7, 2026)

No. 25-415 Argued August 7, 2026 Published August 8, 2026; updated August 23, 2026

The Ninth Circuit reviews Walji's request for a new trial after a federal sexual-abuse conviction on an aircraft. He says a forensic interviewer's testimony and the prosecutor's closing argument improperly reinforced the complaining witness's credibility. The United States says the statements stayed within the trial record and did not warrant a new trial. Mark Middaugh of Middaugh Law will seek a new trial; Assistant U.S. Attorney Tania Culbertson will ask the court to affirm. The panel affirmed on August 18, finding no improper vouching and no basis to reverse.

United States v. Walji (No. 25-415) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, argued August 7, 2026.

Sources
Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (public domain, 17 U.S.C. § 105):https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/media/2026/08/07/25-415.mp3
Argument listing — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit:https://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/cases/streams-videos/archive?case=25-415&hearingDate=2026-08-07
Memorandum disposition — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit:https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/memoranda/2026/08/18/25-415.pdf
Case docket — Justia:https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/ca9/25-415
Mark Middaugh biography — Middaugh Law:https://www.middaughlaw.com/about
Mark Middaugh counsel listing — Supreme Court of the United States:https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/20-8312.html
Lawyer-representative roster — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit:https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/assets/lawyer-reps/LR-Roster.pdf
Tania Culbertson counsel listing — Supreme Court of the United States:https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/23/23A874/305661/20240321162745324_Proof%20or%20Service%20Request%20for%20Extension%20of%20Time%20for%20Cert%20Petition.pdf
Court order identifying counsel's work on this appeal — Justia:https://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/washington/wawdce/3%3A2024cv05637/337831/24

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