blog/show

SCOTUS Gun Watch - Week of 3/13/23

  • Date:
  • March 13th, 2023

By: Andrew Willinger

Doe will be considered at the Court's March 24 conference, and Lora is still set for oral argument in about two weeks on March 28. 

We're adding one new case to the tracker this week, which is not a Second Amendment case but may be of interest to readers.  NRA v. Vullo involves a First Amendment challenge by the National Rifle Association to "industry-directed 'guidance letters' and a press statement issued by the New York State Governor's Office . . . [that] called upon banks and insurance companies doing business in New York to consider the risks, including 'reputational risks,' that might arise from doing business with the NRA or 'similar gun promotion organizations.'"  The government speech at issue occurred in 2018, following a mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL.  The NRA alleges that the state engaged in a coercive "effort to chill [its] protected speech and  . . . unconstitutionally retaliated against the NRA for its protected speech."  

In September 2022, the Second Circuit reversed the district court and ruled that all claims should be dismissed—finding that "the Complaint fails to plausibly allege that Vullo unconstitutionally threatened or coerced [financial institutions] to stifle the NRA's speech" and that, even if the NRA had alleged a viable First Amendment claim, Vullo was protected by qualified immunity.  The NRA filed a petition for certiorari on February 7, framing the petition in part as providing the opportunity to resolve a circuit split between the Second and Seventh circuits over "how to assess whether and when communications from powerful regulators cross the line from persuasion to coercion."  In a 2015 decision, a Seventh Circuit panel reversed a district court's decision to deny injunctive relief to Backpage.com on a First Amendment claim alleging that a county sheriff "demand[ed] that firms such as Visa and MasterCard prohibit the use of their credit cards to purchase any ads on Backpage, since the ads might be for illegal sex-related products or services, such as prostitution." 

 

Petitions Pending

Case

Ct. Below

Pet. Filed

Implicated Law/Issue

Status

The National Rifle Association of America 

v.

Maria T. Vullo

(22-842)

2d Cir. 

7-Feb-2023

First Amendment challenge by the NRA to state government guidance and press urging banks and insurance companies to consider the reputational risks of doing business with gun-rights organizations. 

Petition filed 7-Feb-2023 (Leave to file under seal granted)

Doe

v.

United States

(22-806)

1st Cir.

17-Feb-2023

Whether the Massachusetts state crime of straight assault becomes a violent felony that satisfies the ACCA's force requirement because it was committed with a dangerous weapon.

Distributed for conference 24-Mar-2023

Lora

v. 

United States

(22-49)

2d Cir. 

15-July-2022

Whether 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(D)(ii) requires consecutive sentences be imposed for a defendant convicted and sentenced under 924(j).

Set for argument 28-Mar-2023

 

Petitions Disposed

Case

Ct. Below

Pet. Filed

Implicated Law/Issue

Status

Flick v. Rosen

(20-902)

11th Cir.

29-Dec-20

As-applied challenge to 922(g)(1)

Cert Denied

Fleury v. Massachusetts

(20-1122)

App. Ct. Mass.

2-Nov-20

Challenge to Mass. firearm storage law

Cert Denied

Holloway v. Barr

(20-782)

3d Cir.

3-Dec-20

As-applied challenge to 922(g)(1)

Cert Denied

Mai v. United States

(20-819)

9th Cir.

9-Dec-20

As-applied challenge to 922(g)(4)

Cert Denied

Folajtar v. Barr

(20-812)

3d Cir.

11-Dec-20

As-applied challenge to 922(g)(1)

Cert Denied

Greer v. United States

(19-8709)

11th Cir.

8-Jun-2020

Scope of appellate review for Rehaif errors

Decided 14-June-2021

Caniglia v. Strom

(20-157)

1st Cir.

10-Aug-20

Fourth Amendment challenge to gun removal

Decided 17-May-2021

Hobbs v. United States

(20-171)

6th Cir.

13-Aug-20

Guilty plea under 922(g) without knowledge of disqualifying status

 

Cert Denied

United States v. Gary

(20-444)

4th Cir.

5-Oct-20

Guilty plea under 922(g) without being informed that knowledge is an element of the offense

(Govt is petitioner)

Decided 14-June-2021

Rodriguez v. San Jose

(19-1057)

9th Cir.

21-Feb-20

Warrantless search and seizure of firearms under Fourth Amendment

Cert Denied

Johnson v. United States

(19-1390)

4th. Cir.

12-Jun-20

Vagueness challenge to the Armed Career Criminal Act’s elements clause

Cert Denied

Zoie H. v Nebraska

(19-1418)

Neb. Sup. Ct.

22-June-20

 

Second and Sixth Amendment challenge to jury-less conviction that can result in gun disqualifer for juveniles

Cert Denied

Caldara v. City of Boulder

(20-416)

10th Cir.

24-Sep-20

Federal court abstention over Second Amendment claims being adjudicated in state court

Cert Denied

Torres v. United States

(20-5579)

9th Cir.

27-Aug-20

As-applied challenge to 922(g)(1)

Cert Denied

E.H. v. Florida Dept. Ag. (Pro se)

(20-627)

Fla. Ct. App.

9-Oct-20

Challenge to firearm license denial based on prior mental health commitment

Cert Denied

Porter v. United States

(20-522)

6th Cir.

16-Oct-20

Challenge to ACCA enhancement

Cert Denied

McGinnis v. United States

(20-6046)

5th Cir.

13-Oct-20

As-applied challenge to 922(g)(8)

Cert Denied

Yoo v. United States

(20-550)

5th Cir.

21-Oct-20

Challenge to conviction based on misstatements on Form 4473 (req’d for purchase at a gun dealer)

Cert Denied

Knowles v. Hart

(20-840)

11th Cir.

17-Dec-20

Fourth Amendment challenge to use of deadly force against person with holstered weapon

Cert Denied

Libertarian Party of Erie County v. Cuomo

(20-1151)

2d Cir.

9-Feb-21

Challenge to New York’s pistol permit regime

Cert Denied

Keahey v. Marquis

(20-1298)

6th Cir.

16-Mar-21

Failure to give self-defense instruction

Cert Denied

Russell v. New Jersey

(20-1419)

N.J. Superior Ct.

2-Apr-21

Challenge to New Jersey’s good cause public carry law

Cert Denied

Reyes-Torres, v. United States

(20-7714)

5th Cir.

5- Apr-2021

Challenge to § 922(g)(5) (federal law barring undocumented immigrants from possessing firearms)

Cert Denied

Weber v. Ohio

(20-1640)

Ohio Sup. Ct.

21-May-21

Challenge to Ohio law barring carrying/using firearms while intoxicated

Cert Denied

Roundtree v. Wisconsin

(20-1706)

Wisc. Sup. Ct.

4-June-2021

Challenge to state law prohibiting firearm possession by non-violent felon

Cert Denied

Harley v. Garland

(21-104)

4th Cir.

22-July-2021

As-applied challenge to § 922(g)(9) (conviction for misdemeanor domestic violence offense)

Cert Denied

Bello v. Rockland County

(21-514)

2d Cir.

4-Oct-2021

Fourth Amendment and due process challenges to New York policies about the return of firearms after disqualification

Cert Denied

P.Z. v. New Jersey

(21-175)

N.J. Superior Ct.

4-Aug-2021

Challenge to N.J. law permitting firearms seizure/prohibiting possession pursuant to DV restraining order

Cert Denied

Hatch v. Minnesota

(21-667)

Minn. Sup. Ct.

1-Nov-2021

Challenge to Minnesota’s requirement that a person get a permit to carry in public

Cert Denied

Zaitzeff v. Seattle

(21-910)

Wash. Ct. App.

16-Dec-2021

Challenge to Seattle ordinance barring the public carry of certain knives

Cert Denied

Marshall v. BATFE

(21-1155)

4th Cir.

17-Feb-2022

Challenge to 4th Circuit decision vacating opinion striking down under-21 handgun purchase ban

Cert Denied

Rodrigues v. County of Hawaii

(21-895)

9th Cir.

13-Dec-2021

Challenge to arrest on weapons’ charges given the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act (LEOSA)

Cert Denied

Cassidy v. Massachusetts

(21-1249)

Mass. App. Ct.

1-Mar-2022

Challenge to permit requirement for home firearm possession

Cert Denied

Turner v. Brannon-Dortch

(21-1341)

7th Cir.

4-Apr-2022

Challenge to trial questioning about “illegal” gun that was lawfully licensed

Cert Denied

McCloskey, Petitioner

v.

Missouri Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel

(21-1440)

Mo. Sup. Ct.

9-May-2022

Challenge to attorney discipline for firearms-related conduct on Second Amendment and due process grounds

Cert Denied

New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen

(20-843)

2d Cir.

17-Dec-20

Challenge to New York’s good cause public carry regime

Decided 23-June-2022

Association of New Jersey Rifle & Pistol Clubs v. Bruck

(20-1507)

3d Cir.

26-Apr-21

Challenge to New Jersey ban on magazines holding 10 rounds or more

Granted, vacated and remanded 30-June 2022

Young v. Hawaii

(20-1639)

9th Cir.

11-May-21

Challenge to Hawaii’s restrictive open carry law

Granted, vacated and remanded 30-June 2022

Bianchi v. Frosh

(21-902)

4th Cir.

16-Dec-2021

Challenge to Maryland’s assault weapons ban and to the methodology used for 2A questions

Granted, vacated and remanded 30-June 2022

Duncan v. Bonta

(21-1194)

9th Cir.

28-Feb-2022

Challenge to California ban on magazines holding 10 rounds or more

Granted, vacated and remanded 30-June 2022

Aposhian v. Garland

(21-159)

10th Cir.

2-Aug-2021

Challenge to agency deference re the bump stock ban

Cert Denied

Morin v. Lyver

(21-1160)

1st Cir.

13-Dec-2022

Challenge to Massachusetts’ bar on handgun purchases for those with nonviolent misdemeanors

Granted, vacated and remanded 03-Oct-2022

Gun Owners of America v. Garland

(21-1215)

6th Cir.

3-Mar-2022

Challenge to the bump stock ban

Cert Denied

Whitaker

v.

District of Columbia Concealed Pistol Licensing Review Board

(21-1545)

D.C. Ct. App.

7-Jun-2022

Challenge to DC gun license revocation standard

Cert Denied

Torcivia

v.

Suffolk County

(21-1522)

2d Cir.

31-May-2022

Challenge to warrantless home entry to seize firearms

Cert Denied

McCutchen, et al.; The Modern Sportsman, et al.

v.

United States

(22-25)

Fed Cir.

8-July-2022

Challenge to ATF bump stock ban under 5th Amendment takings clause

Cert Denied

Keith L. Carnes

v.

United States

(22-76)

8th Cir.

26-July-2022

As-applied challenge to 922(g)(3) and definition of "unlawful user of . . . any controlled substance"

Cert Denied

Mashour Howling

v. 

State of Maryland

Md. Ct. App.

13-Oct-2022

Challenge to Maryland jury instructions for possessing firearm after conviction for a crime of violence

Cert Denied

Baldea

v.

City of New York License Division of the NYPD

(21-1495)

NY App. Ct.

10-May-2022

Challenge to NYC gun license denial

Cert Denied

Antonyuk

v.

Nigrelli

(22A557 - emergency application

2d Cir. 

21-Dec-2022

Application to lift stay of district court preliminary injunction pending appeal (NY post-Bruen gun law)

Denied 11-Jan-2023; Justice Alito issued a separate statement (joined by Justice Thomas)

Greco 

v. 

Platkin

(22-478)

3d Cir. 

13-May-2022

Challenge to NJ extreme-risk-protection law under Fourth Amendment / Younger abstention 

Cert Denied

Gazzola 

v.

Hochul 

(22A591 - emergency application)

2d Cir.

29-Dec-2022

Application to reverse district court order denying preliminary injunction and enter administrative stay (NY commercial gun regulations)

Denied 18-Jan-2023

Beemer 

v.

Whitmer

(22-586)

6th Cir.

21-Dec-2022

Mootness of challenge to Michigan COVID-19 restrictions, including Second Amendment challenge to order closing gun stores

Cert Denied