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SCOTUS Gun Watch - Week of 3/6/23

  • Date:
  • March 6th, 2023

By: Andrew Willinger

On February 17, a petition for certiorari was filed in Doe v. United States.  One of the issues presented in Doe is whether the Massachusetts state crime of assault is a "violent felony" within the meaning of the Armed Career Criminal Act when committed with a dangerous weapon (in this instance, a firearm). 

While the Supreme Court invalidated the ACCA's "residual" clause in 2015 in Johnson v. United States, federal law continues to mandate a minimum sentence of 15 years for offenders convicted under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g) with three prior convictions for violent felonies or serious drug offenses.  The petitioner in Doe argues that his prior state conviction for assault by means of a dangerous weapon does not qualify as an ACCA predicate violent felony because the use of a gun "does not transform an intentional unwanted or offensive touching into a violent act."  The First Circuit disagreed, relying on circuit precedent finding that assault under Massachusetts law—when committed with a dangerous weapon—is an ACCA-predicate violent felony even post-Johnson

Petitions Pending

Case

Ct. Below

Pet. Filed

Implicated Law/Issue

Status

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.

Response due 27-Mar-2023 (Right to respond waived)

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