9th Circuit Court of Appeals: Gillespie-Galindo v. Blanche Decision

The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit filed a "NOT FOR PUBLICATION" decision on September 24, 2026, in the case of *Nancy Claraviola Gillespie-Galindo v. Todd Blanche*, identified by case number 17-71164.

The most significant aspect of this filing for legal professionals is its "NOT FOR PUBLICATION" designation. In the Ninth Circuit, as with many federal appellate courts, such opinions are generally not considered precedential and cannot be cited as binding authority by courts or parties, except in very limited circumstances, such as for purposes of res judicata, collateral estoppel, or law of the case. This means the decision primarily resolves the specific dispute between the immediate parties without establishing new legal principles or interpretations that would apply to future cases. For practitioners, this distinction is critical when conducting legal research and formulating arguments, as unpublished opinions carry minimal weight in shaping broader legal development.

This case falls within the federal court system, specifically the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, which serves as an intermediate appellate court for a large geographical area encompassing several western states and territories. The Ninth Circuit's rules, particularly Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 32.1 and its own local rules, govern the precedential value and citation of unpublished dispositions. The case number "17-71164" indicates that the appeal originated in 2017, suggesting a potentially lengthy litigation process. Federal appellate courts typically hear appeals from U.S. District Courts, the U.S. Tax Court, and certain administrative agencies, though the specific origin of this case is not detailed.

The key parties involved are Nancy Claraviola Gillespie-Galindo and Todd Blanche. The court responsible for this decision is the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Molly C. Dwyer is identified as the Clerk of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, signifying the official filing of the document.

Attorneys should be acutely aware that while this decision resolves the specific dispute between Gillespie-Galindo and Blanche, its "NOT FOR PUBLICATION" status means it lacks precedential value for future cases in the Ninth Circuit. Practitioners must therefore exercise caution and consult the Ninth Circuit's local rules regarding the citation of unpublished dispositions to avoid misrepresenting their legal authority. While the outcome of this specific matter is not reported in the excerpt, the designation itself is a critical piece of information for understanding its legal weight and impact on broader jurisprudence.