⚖ Oral Arguments, with Context

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Salmon v. DVA — Fed. Cir. (argued September 10, 2026)

No. 25-1420 Argued September 10, 2026 Published September 11, 2026

The Federal Circuit considers whether it may review an arbitrator's rejection of Sandra Salmon's whistleblower-retaliation claim. Salmon, a Department of Veterans Affairs nurse, challenged her removal through her union's grievance procedure. The jurisdictional dispute is whether choosing arbitration left her without judicial review. If the court has jurisdiction, it will also consider whether the arbitrator used the correct whistleblower framework.

Salmon v. DVA (No. 25-1420) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, argued September 10, 2026.

Sources
Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (public domain, 17 U.S.C. § 105):https://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/oral-arguments/25-1420_09102026.mp3
Argument listing — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit:https://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/home/oral-argument/listen-to-oral-arguments/
Argument calendar and counsel — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit:https://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/wp-content/uploads/OralArguments/PublicCalendar-September2026.pdf
5 U.S.C. § 7121 — U.S. House Office of the Law Revision Counsel:https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title5-section7121&num=0&edition=prelim
5 U.S.C. § 1221 — U.S. House Office of the Law Revision Counsel:https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title5-section1221&num=0&edition=prelim
38 U.S.C. § 7463 — U.S. House Office of the Law Revision Counsel:https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title38-section7463&num=0&edition=prelim
Bonner v. DVA — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit:https://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/opinions-orders/05-3349.pdf
Whitmore v. Department of Labor — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit:https://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/opinions-orders/11-3084.pdf
Oliva v. DVA — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit:https://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/opinions-orders/23-2331.OPINION.5-7-2026_2690061.pdf
Case background — New Haven Register:https://www.nhregister.com/news/article/Terminated-whistleblower-alleges-retaliation-17477619.php
Ibidun Roberts — Roberts Labor Law and Consulting:https://robertslaborlaw.com/about-us
Ibidun Roberts firm record — AFGE National VA Council:https://afgenvac.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/NG-3-4-2025-Violation-of-Darby-Award.pdf
Matthew Jude Carhart affiliation — Federal Circuit opinion in Ley v. Collins:https://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/opinions-orders/25-1425.OPINION.8-7-2026_2735227.pdf
Matthew Jude Carhart affiliation — Federal Circuit opinion in De Hart v. Collins:https://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/opinions-orders/24-2238.OPINION.6-26-2026_2715216.pdf

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