⚖ Oral Arguments, with Context

The Ninth Circuit hears Kent Doub's appeal from a conviction for possessing child sexual abuse material. Investigators traced activity on the Freenet file-sharing network to his internet connection, obtained a warrant, and seized his computers in 2020. A jury convicted him in 2025. Before trial, Doub challenged the later reexamination of his computer data, but the judge refused to exclude the evidence. The argument now centers on Freenet Roundup, investigative software used in obtaining the warrant. Criminal discovery is the disclosure of information to help prepare a defense. Rule sixteen requires access to certain government-held material that is material to preparing the defense. Material means helpful in developing a possible defense, not a guarantee that the defense will succeed. The rule also lets judges restrict disclosure for good cause. John Ellis, for Doub, will seek access for defense testing. Nicholas Pilchak, for the government, will defend the disclosures already provided and argue that wider access could expose investigative methods.

USA v. Doub (No. 25-5691) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, argued October 28, 2026.