Opinion ID: 4511503
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Effect of the Motions Panel’s Decision

Text: A preliminary question is whether a merits panel is bound by the analysis of a motions panel on a question of law, performed in the course of deciding an emergency request for a stay pending appeal. On that question, we follow East Bay Sanctuary Covenant v. Trump, Nos. 18-17274 and 18-17436 (9th Cir. 2020), argued on the same day as this case, in which we held that a motions panel’s legal analysis, performed during the course of deciding an emergency motion for a stay, is not binding on later merits panels. Such a decision by a motions panel is “a probabilistic endeavor,” “doctrinally distinct” from the question considered by the later merits panel, and “issued without oral argument, on limited timelines, and in reliance on limited briefing.” Id. at 21–22, 20. “Such a predictive analysis should not, and does not, forever bind the merits of the parties’ claims.” Id. at 22. At oral argument in this case, the Government acknowledged “that law of the circuit treatment does not apply to [the motion’s panel’s decision].” The Government later reiterated that it was “not advocating for law of the circuit treatment.” The Government “agree[d] that that is inappropriate in the context of a motions panel decision.” Even if, acting as a merits panel, we may be bound in some circumstances by a decision by a motions panel on a legal question, we would in any event not be bound in the case now before us. Two of the three judges on the motions panel disagreed in part with the Government’s legal arguments in support of the MPP. Further, the motions panel’s per curiam opinion did not purport to decide definitively the legal questions presented to it in the 20 INNOVATION LAW LAB V. WOLF emergency stay motion. The per curiam spoke in terms of doubt and likelihood, rather than in terms of definitive holdings. Innovation Law Lab, 924 F.3d at 509; see also