Ninth Circuit Blocks California Rule Requiring Federal Officers to Show ID

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On October 14, 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, the federal appeals court that covers Nevada, ruled that California likely cannot require federal officers to wear visible identification. Our firm was not involved in this case.

What the California law said

Section 10 of California's "No Vigilantes Act" required non-uniformed law enforcement officers, including federal officers, to visibly display their agency and a name or badge number during arrests, detentions, and crowd control. There were exceptions, such as undercover work and emergencies. A knowing violation was a misdemeanor.

What the court decided

The United States sued. The three-judge panel held that the federal government is likely to win, because under the Constitution's Supremacy Clause a state cannot directly regulate how federal officers carry out federal law unless Congress allows it. The court reversed the trial judge and ordered a preliminary injunction blocking California from enforcing Section 10 against federal agencies and officers.

This is a preliminary ruling. The case goes back to the trial court. The ruling does not change state or local police ID rules, and it does not address anyone's right to sue a federal officer.

Why identification matters for accountability

If you believe a federal officer violated your rights, you generally need to know who the officer was and which agency they work for. Claims against federal agencies often go through the Federal Tort Claims Act, which has its own strict notice deadlines. Lawsuits against individual federal officers for constitutional violations (called "Bivens" claims) have been sharply limited by the U.S. Supreme Court, including in Egbert v. Boule (2022).

When officers cannot be identified at the scene, their names often must be uncovered later through records requests or court discovery. That takes time, and deadlines keep running.

If you had an encounter with federal officers

• Write down the time, place, vehicles, uniforms, and any names or numbers you saw.

• Save videos and photos, and the names of witnesses.

• Talk to a civil rights lawyer soon, because deadlines can be short.

This post is general information, not legal advice. Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

If you believe your civil rights were violated by law enforcement in Nevada, call us at (702) 819-7770 for a free consultation.