Federal appeals court grants full hearing to fired immigration judges

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on Wednesday agreed to give two former immigration judges challenging the legality of their terminations a full-panel hearing. The fact that the court in Washington, D.C., granted the request shows the importance of the case, according to the law firm representing the two former immigration judges. Appeals courts rarely agree to have their full panels hear a case and do so only in matters of great importance, the firm said.

What exactly is this case about? Former immigration judges Megan Jackler and Brandon Jaroch earlier this year challenged their February 2025 firings, as well as the firings of hundreds of other civil servants during President Donald Trump’s second term in office. Jackler and Jaroch argue that those firings violate the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978. The federal government, however, argues that the CSRA unconstitutionally limits the President’s Article II removal authorities. Under Article II of the U.S. Constitution, they argue that both the president and the attorney general have the right to fire immigration judges at will. The lawyers for Jaroch and Jackler argue that, if the government is allowed to obtain its vision for how the president can treat civil servants, it will invalidate laws meant to protect civil servants from abuse and discrimination.

Dig deeper: Read Liz Lykins’ report in Liberties about a federal court’s recent order authorizing a religious homeless assistance organization to continue its ministry despite a city ordinance prohibiting its activities.