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Ninth Circuit Upholds California Ban on Large-Capacity Magazines as Judge VanDyke Responds with Unconventional Video Dissent

Judge Lawrence VanDyke's YouTube video dissent, featuring firearm demonstrations, challenges the court's ruling and raises questions about judicial ethics and Second Amendment interpretation.

U.S. Circuit Judge Lawrence VanDyke appears in a video released by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals as part of his dissent from a ruling upholding California's ban on magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition, in California, U.S., in this screengrab taken from a handout video released on March 20, 2025. 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals/Handout via REUTERS

Overview

  • The Ninth Circuit Court ruled 7-4 to uphold California's ban on magazines holding more than 10 rounds, citing historical precedents in firearm regulation.
  • Judge Lawrence VanDyke issued an 18-minute YouTube video dissent, arguing the majority's decision was based on a flawed understanding of firearms and their practical use in self-defense.
  • VanDyke's video included demonstrations with firearms, which his colleagues criticized as improper and akin to self-appointing as an expert witness without procedural safeguards.
  • The court majority emphasized that large-capacity magazines are not protected under the Second Amendment and highlighted their role in exacerbating mass shootings.
  • Legal experts described VanDyke's video dissent as unprecedented, with some speculating it could be an attempt to gain attention for a potential Supreme Court nomination.