I don’t know, I don’t play golf...but I have popcorn!!!
They did this on a voting issue last year. I suspect someone has done an informal internal poll and thinks this could be changed...or maybe wants it on the record that they are opposed to the ruling in case shtf.
the press release says they do this type of request about 50 times a year:
En banc calls, including sua sponte en banc calls, are a common occurrence. In an average year in the Ninth Circuit, there are approximately 1,500 requests by parties for rehearing en banc.
Typically, there are approximately fifty requests each year by a judge for a vote on whether to rehear the case en banc. On the average, the Ninth Circuit hears between 15-25 en banc cases a year.
Having a panel of 3 make a decision and then having a motion for an en banc decision is not unusual. Normally, though, it is one of the parties to the action being litigated that makes the request.
http://www.rotlaw.com/legal-library/what-does-en-banc-mean/
Yeah really. It is like a Mulligan in a “Best Ball” golf tournament