Fourth Circuit Arguments in Appeals from the District of Maryland, May 2026

Below is a list of appeals from the District of Maryland being heard during the Fourth Circuit sitting that begins May 5, 2026. When available, we include the Clerk’s synopsis of the issues.

You can visit the Court’s argument calendar for more information on the appeals, including dates for each argument, PACER links to the briefs, and links for audio livestreams. On the morning of each argument day, the Clerk will update the argument calendar to disclose the composition of the three-judge panels.  

To compile this list, we’re going only by the district judge’s name, which can be overinclusive (if a Maryland-based judge was sitting by designation elsewhere within the Circuit) or underinclusive (if an outside judge was sitting by designation in the District of Maryland). Feel free to leave a comment if we’ve missed anything.

25-1936  SmartEnergy Holdings, LLC v. Frederick Hoover (Abelson)
CIVIL: Whether district court erred in dismissing claims alleging excessive fines, deprivation of right to jury trial related to civil penalties imposed by Maryland Public Service Commission.

25-2114 Collision Towing and Auto Body, LLC v. Prince George’s County, MD (Quereshi)
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW: Challenge to district court’s grant of summary judgment to County on Fifth Amendment takings claim.

25-1730 PSEG Renewable Transmission LLC v. Arentz Family, LP (Abelson)
CIVIL: Whether district court erred in granting mandatory preliminary injunction to provide access to private properties along transmission line across Maryland.

25-1512 Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends v. U.S. Dpt. of Homeland Security (Chuang)
CIVIL: Whether district court erred in preliminarily enjoining DHS from acting pursuant to new agency guidance related to immigration enforcement actions in or near plaintiffs’ houses of worship.

25-1828 Gilead Sciences, Inc. v. Meritain Health, Inc. (Rubin)
CIVIL: Challenge to district court’s order preliminarily enjoining importation to and distribution within the United States of certain prescription drugs manufactured for distribution outside the United States.

25-1975 Kaitlyn Trimble v. Entrata, Inc. (Bennett)
CONTRACT: Whether district court erred in finding promise to arbitrate illusory, such that no agreement to arbitrate was formed.

25-4218 US v. Stephen Snyder (Boardman)
CRIMINAL: Whether district court erred in allowing defendant to represent himself at trial; whether defendant was entitled to advice-of-counsel jury instruction; other issues.

25-4202 US v. Ryan Dales (Russell)
CRIMINAL: Whether warrant application showed sufficient nexus between criminal activity and residence to be searched.

25-1892 Kalshiex LLC v. John Martin (Abelson)
CIVIL: Whether the Commodity Exchange Act preempts application of Maryland gambling laws to exchange-traded sports event contracts.

24-1197 Jon Brunenkant v. Suburban Hospital, Incorporated (Griggsby)
CIVIL: Whether district court applied correct statute of limitations to plaintiff’s fraud claims under Maryland law; whether defendants’ alleged fraud tolled limitations period.

25-1235 Fareed Hayat v. Casey Diaz (Griggsby)
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW: Whether district court erred in granting summary judgment in favor of officers on claims alleging Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment violations and violations of state tort law.

25-4033 US v. Christopher Bendann (Bredar)
CRIMINAL: Whether court should have suppressed information found on cell phone that defendant unlocked using  passcode after facial recognition—which was encompassed by warrant–failed; other issues.