USA v. Ramirez — 9th Cir. (Sep 14, 2026)
The Ninth Circuit hears a government appeal in an illegal-reentry case. The defendant was charged with returning to the United States unlawfully after removal. He was convicted, but the district court later granted a judgment of acquittal, set aside the conviction, and dismissed the indictment. The government appealed. Venue means the legally proper geographic location for a trial, a question separate from guilt or innocence. Preponderance of the evidence means that a fact is more likely true than not. Rule twenty-nine allows a defendant to ask the trial judge for acquittal when the evidence is insufficient to sustain a conviction.
USA v. Ramirez (No. 25-957) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, argued September 14, 2026.
Sources
Argument audio — Ninth Circuit court original:https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/media/2026/09/14/25-957.mp3
Recording and argument date — Ninth Circuit archive:https://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/cases/streams-videos/archive?case=25-957&hearingDate=2026-09-14
Charge, prior order and appeal — Ninth Circuit case calendar synopsis:https://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/cases/calendar/calendar-search?input-search-case=25-957
Venue and acquittal motions — Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure18 and29:https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/federal-rules-of-criminal-procedure.pdf
Venue distinguished from criminal culpability — Smith v. United States (2023):https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/22pdf/21-1576_e29g.pdf
Evidence sufficient to sustain conviction — Justice Manual9-27.220:https://www.justice.gov/jm/jm-9-27000-principles-federal-prosecution
Preponderance definition — Judge Vratil’s jury instructions:https://www.ksd.uscourts.gov/jury-instructions-vratil
Preponderance definition — 2 C.F.R. §180.990 (public text copy):https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/2/180.990
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