A recent dissenting opinion by Judge Lawrence VanDyke of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has stirred controversy due to its unconventional inclusion of a self-produced video, in which the judge demonstrated the mechanics of handguns. This video was created as part of VanDyke’s dissent to the court’s decision affirming the legality of a 2016 California law that prohibits the possession of large-capacity magazines.
Judge VanDyke’s dissent focused on challenging the majority opinion, which determined that such large-capacity magazines are neither classified as “arms” nor considered essential accessories for operating an “arm” under the Second Amendment. This ruling has prompted significant debate among the judiciary, leading to a notable exchange among Ninth Circuit judges on the appropriateness of employing visual aids in legal dissents.
For more information on this development, you can read the details of the case through the National Law Journal.