SCOTUS Gun Watch - Week of 11/4/24
The Court issued an orders list this morning following last Friday's conference. The justices granted, vacated, and remanded a number of felon-in-possession cases for further proceedings in light of Rahimi—following the same general approach taken for prior petitions this fall—and denied certiorari in others. There is still no order in Wilson v. Hawaii, the public carry case in which the Hawaii Supreme Court made waves by interepreting the state's Second Amendment analogue provision to include only a militia-related right. That petition had been distributed for the fourth time at last week's conference.
In Smith & Wesson v. Estados Unidos Mexicanos, the PLCAA case dealing with claims by the government of Mexico against U.S. gun manufacturers that the Supreme Court will hear this term, Smith & Wesson has requested a briefing schedule under which their opening brief is due on November 26, Mexico's response is due on January 10, and the case would be fully briefed by the Court's oral argument session that begins on February 24, 2025. A response in Ocean State Tactical v. Rhode Island—where the First Circuit upheld Rhode Island's large-capacity magazine ban—will be filed tomorrow.
Petitions Granted and Pending Argument
|
Case |
Ct. Below |
Pet. Filed |
Implicated Law/Issue |
Status |
|
(23-852) |
5th Cir. |
7-Feb-2024 |
Administrative law challenge to ATF "ghost gun" rule, which provides that certain products that can readily be converted into an operational firearm or a functional frame or receiver fall within the GCA's defintion of a "firearm" and may be regulated accordingly. |
Argued 8-Oct-24 |
|
(23-1141) |
1st Cir. |
18-Apr-24 |
Scope of proximate cause for claims brought under PLCAA exception by the Mexican government based on the production and sale of firearms in the United States; Scope of aiding and abetting liability with regard to the same claims. |
Petitioner's brief due 26-Nov-24 (under proposed briefing schedule) |
Petitions Pending
|
Case |
Ct. Below |
Pet. Filed |
Implicated Law/Issue |
Status |
|
(24-5795) |
1st Cir. |
16-Oct-24 |
Second Amendment challenge to § 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1), which prohibits felons from possessing firearms, by nonviolent felon. |
Distributed for conference 15-Nov-24 |
|
(24-5768) |
4th Cir. |
15-Oct-24 |
Facial Second Amendment challenge to § 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1), which prohibits felons from possessing firearms. |
Response due 18-Nov-24 |
|
(24-403) |
Wash. Ct. of Appeals |
8-Oct-24 |
Whether a juvenile felony conviction disqualifies an individual from possessing firearms under federal law. |
Response due 12-Nov-24 |
|
(24-5744) |
11th Cir. |
8-Oct-24 |
Second Amendment challenge to § 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1), which prohibits felons from possessing firearms, by nonviolent felon. |
Response due 12-Nov-24 |
|
(24-5748) |
5th Cir. |
7-Oct-24 |
Second Amendment challenge to § 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1), which prohibits felons from possessing firearms, by nonviolent felon. |
Distributed for conference 15-Nov-24 |
|
(24-5723) |
6th Cir. |
2-Oct-24 |
Second Amendment challenge to § 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1), which prohibits felons from possessing firearms. |
Distributed for conference 8-Nov-24 |
|
(24-373) |
4th Cir. |
27-Sep-24 |
Second Amendment challenge to Maryland's handgun qualification license requirement / shall-issue licensing for handgun purchases under Bruen. |
Response due 2-Dec-24 |
|
(24-5690) |
10th Cir. |
26-Sep-24 |
Facial and as-applied Second Amendment challenge to § 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1), which prohibits felons from possessing firearms. |
Response due 2-Dec-24 |
|
(24-309) |
3d Cir. |
16-Sep-24 |
Whether the infringement of the Second Amendment constitutes per se irreparable injury sufficient to support a preliminary injunction (in the context of Delaware's ban on certain semiautomatic rifles and large-capacity magazines). |
Distributed for conference 8-Nov-24 |
|
(24-203) |
4th Cir. |
21-Aug-24 |
Second Amendment challenge to Maryland ban on certain semiautomatic rifles; what weapons receive Second Amendment protection. |
Response due 12-Nov-24 (deadline extended) |
|
(24-178) |
6th Cir. |
16-Aug-24 |
Second Amendment challenge to municipal zoning rules that prohibition construction of an outdoor firing range; Second Amendment protection for the right to train with commonly-possessed firearms. |
Response filed 21-Oct-24 |
|
(24-131) |
1st Cir. |
2-Aug-24 |
Whether a state may ban large-capacity magazines consistent with the Second Amendment. |
Response due 5-Nov-24 |
|
(24-120) |
11th Cir. |
29-July-24 |
Whether certain items (inline fuel filters and firearms solvent traps) capable of muffling or silencing the sound of a firearm discharge fall within the NFA's silencer ban or are protected by the Second Amendment. |
Response due 4-Nov-24 |
|
(24-5194) |
5th Cir. |
26-July-24 |
Second Amendment challenge to § 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1), which prohibits felons from possessing firearms. |
Response due 20-Nov-24 |
|
(24-5821) |
4th Cir. |
26-July-24 (docketed 25-Oct-24) |
Second Amendment challenge to § 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1), which prohibits felons from possessing firearms (habeas petition). |
Distributed for conference 15-Nov-24 |
|
(23-7517) |
Supreme Ct. of Hawaii |
14-May-24 |
Whether Bruen governs when a state's criminal prosecution for |
Distributed for conference 1-Nov-24 |
Petitions Disposed
|
Case |
Ct. Below |
Pet. Filed |
Implicated Law/Issue |
Status |
|
(24-5488) |
10th Cir. |
5-Sep-24 |
Second Amendment challenge to § 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1), which prohibits felons from possessing firearms. |
Granted, vacated, and remanded post-Rahimi 4-Nov-24 |
|
(24-5453) |
11th Cir. |
30-Aug-24 |
Second Amendment and Commerce Clause challenge to § 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1), which prohibits felons from possessing firearms. |
Granted, vacated, and remanded post-Rahimi 4-Nov-24 |
|
(24-5406) |
8th Cir. |
22-Aug-24 |
Second Amendment challenge to § 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1), which prohibits felons from possessing firearms, and § 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(9), which prohibits domestic-violence misdemeanants from possessing firearms. |
Granted, vacated, and remanded post-Rahimi 4-Nov-24 |
|
(24-5391) |
4th Cir. |
22-Aug-24 |
Facial Second Amendment challenge to § 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1), which prohibits felons from possessing firearms. |
Granted, vacated, and remanded post-Rahimi 4-Nov-24 |
|
(24-5328) |
8th Cir. |
13-Aug-24 |
Whether 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1), which prohibits felons from possessing firearms, is invariably constitutional both facially and as applied to any defendant, no matter the case-specific circumstances. |
Granted, vacated, and remanded post-Rahimi 4-Nov-24 |
|
(24-5315) |
11th Cir. |
7-Aug-24 |
Facial and as-applied Second Amendment and challenge to § 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1), which prohibits felons from possessing firearms. |
Granted, vacated, and remanded post-Rahimi 4-Nov-24 |
|
(24-5258) |
10th Cir. |
5-Aug-24 |
Facial and as-applied Second Amendment and challenge to § 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1), which prohibits felons from possessing firearms. |
Granted, vacated, and remanded post-Rahimi 4-Nov-24 |
|
(24-5639) |
5th Cir. |
24-Sep-24 |
Second Amendment challenge to § 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1), which prohibits felons from possessing firearms. |
Cert Denied 4-Nov-24 |
|
(24-5623) |
3d Cir. |
20-Sep-24 |
As-applied Second Amendment challenge to § 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1), which prohibits felons from possessing firearms. |
Cert Denied 4-Nov-24 |
|
(24-328) |
10th Cir. |
17-Sep-24 |
Pro se petition challenging ATF's classification of stabilizing pistol braces on various constitutional and statutory grounds. |
Cert Denied 4-Nov-24 |
|
(23-1257) |
5th Cir. |
29-May-24 |
Whether the Fourth Amendment permits police to shoot a fleeing suspect who might be holding a gun but exhibits no other signs of dangerousness. |
Cert Denied 4-Nov-24 |
|
(24-5479) |
5th Cir. |
4-Sep-24 |
Second Amendment and Commerce Clause challenge to § 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1), which prohibits felons from possessing firearms. |
Cert Denied 21-Oct-24 |
|
(24-37) |
11th Cir. |
10-July-24 |
Whether a criminal defendant may raise an as-applied Second Amendment challenge to 18 U.S.C. |
Granted, vacated, and remanded post-Rahimi 21-Oct-24 |
|
Paris, Commissioner, Pennsylvania State Police (24-93) |
3d Cir. |
25-July-24 |
Second Amendment challenge to state laws that restrict the rights of 18-to-20-year-olds to carry guns in public. |
Granted, vacated, and remanded post-Rahimi 15-Oct-24 |
|
(24-5576) |
5th Cir. |
17-Sep-24 |
Second Amendment and Commerce Clause challenge to § 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1), which prohibits felons from possessing firearms. |
Cert Denied 15-Oct-24 |
|
(24-5560) |
5th Cir. |
16-Sep-24 |
Second Amendment and Commerce Clause challenge to § 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1), which prohibits felons from possessing firearms. |
Cert Denied 15-Oct-24 |
|
(24-5540) |
8th Cir. |
11-Sep-24 |
Whether the possession of a firearm in an open-carry state is sufficient to justify a warrantless seizure under the Fourth Amendment. |
Cert Denied 15-Oct-24 |
|
(24-5507) |
5th Cir. |
6-Sep-24 |
Second Amendment challenge to § 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1), which prohibits felons from possessing firearms. |
Cert Denied 15-Oct-24 |
|
(24-5506) |
9th Cir. |
6-Sep-24 |
Second Amendment challenge to § 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(8)(C)(ii), which prohibits those subject to certain domestic-violence restraining orders from possessing guns based on the terms of the underlying restraining order without a credible-threat finding. |
Cert Denied 15-Oct-24 |
|
(24-5482) |
5th Cir. |
30-Aug-24 |
Second Amendment challenge to § 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1), which prohibits felons from possessing firearms. |
Cert Denied 15-Oct-24 |
|
(24-5404) |
8th Cir. |
22-Aug-24 |
Second Amendment challenge to § 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(3), which prohibits unlawful drug users from possessing guns, both facially and as-applied to marijuana users; temporal nexus between drug use and gun possession. |
Cert Denied 7-Oct-24 |
|
(24-5393) |
5th Cir. |
21-Aug-24 |
Second Amendment challenge to § 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1), which prohibits felons from possessing firearms. |
Cert Denied 7-Oct-24 |
|
(24-5392) |
9th Cir. |
21-Aug-24 |
Impact of Rahimi on a Second Amendment challenge to § 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1), which prohibits felons from possessing firearms. |
Cert Denied 7-Oct-24 |
|
(24-5376) |
5th Cir. |
20-Aug-24 |
Second Amendment and Commerce Clause challenge to § 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1), which prohibits felons from possessing firearms. |
Cert Denied 7-Oct-24 |
|
(24-5298) |
10th Cir. |
7-Aug-24 |
Facial and as-applied Second Amendment and challenge to § 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1), which prohibits felons from possessing firearms. |
Cert Denied 7-Oct-24 |
|
(24-5261) |
5th Cir. |
5-Aug-24 |
Second Amendment and Commerce Clause challenge to § 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1), which prohibits felons from possessing firearms. |
Cert Denied 7-Oct-24 |
|
(24-5229) |
5th Cir. |
1-Aug-24 |
Second Amendment and Commerce Clause challenge to § 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1), which prohibits felons from possessing firearms. |
Cert Denied 7-Oct-24 |
|
(24-5126) |
2d Cir. |
19-July-24 |
As-applied Second Amendment challenge to § 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1), which prohibits felons from possessing firearms. |
Cert Denied 7-Oct-24 |
|
(24-101) |
Mass. Appeals Court |
17-July-24 |
Second Amendment challenge to Massachusetts' firearm licensing system and assault weapons ban, as applied to a new state resident who transports guns purchased out-of-state into Massachusetts. |
Cert Denied 7-Oct-24 |
|
(24-5112) |
5th Cir. |
16-July-24 |
Second Amendment and Commerce Clause challenge to § 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1), which prohibits felons from possessing firearms. |
Cert Denied 7-Oct-24 |
|
(24-5103) |
5th Cir. |
15-July-24 |
Second Amendment and Commerce Clause challenge to § 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1), which prohibits felons from possessing firearms. |
Cert Denied 7-Oct-24 |
|
(24-5101) |
5th Cir. |
15-July-24 |
Second Amendment and Commerce Clause challenge to § 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1), which prohibits felons from possessing firearms. |
Cert Denied 7-Oct-24 |
|
(24-5087) |
5th Cir. |
11-July-24 |
Second Amendment and Commerce Clause challenge to § 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1), which prohibits felons from possessing firearms. |
Cert Denied 7-Oct-24 |
|
(24-5043) |
5th Cir. |
3-July-24 |
Second Amendment challenge to §§ 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(9) and (n), which prohibit domestic-violence misdemeanants and those under felony indictment, respectively, from possessing firearms. |
Cert Denied 7-Oct-24 |
|
(24-5007) |
5th Cir. |
1-July-24 |
Second Amendment challenge to § 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1), which prohibits felons from possessing firearms. |
Cert Denied 7-Oct-24 |
|
(23-7776) |
10th Cir. |
18-June-24 |
Second Amendment and Commerce Clause challenge to § 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1), which prohibits felons from possessing firearms. |
Granted, vacated, and remanded post-Rahimi 7-Oct-24 |
|
(23-7804) |
5th Cir. |
14-Jun-24 |
Post-Bruen constitutionality of § 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1), which prohibits felons from possessing firearms. |
Cert Denied 7-Oct-24 |
|
(23-7693) |
5th Cir. |
10-June-24 |
Second Amendment and Commerce Clause challenge to § 18 U.S.C. 922(n), which prohibits those under felony indictment from receiving firearms. |
Cert Denied 7-Oct-24 |
|
(23-7692) |
5th Cir. |
10-June-24 |
Second Amendment and Commerce Clause challenge to § 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1), which prohibits felons from possessing firearms. |
Cert Denied 7-Oct-24 |
|
(23-7689) |
5th Cir. |
7-June-24 |
Second Amendment and Commerce Clause challenge to § 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1), which prohibits felons from possessing firearms; whether to hold pending Rahimi. |
Cert Denied 7-Oct-24 |
|
(23-7688) |
5th Cir. |
7-June-24 |
Second Amendment challenge to § 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1), which prohibits felons from possessing firearms. |
Cert Denied 7-Oct-24 |
|
(23-7670) |
5th Cir. |
4-June-24 |
Whether Rahimi impacts plain-error analysis for unpreserved 922(g)(1) challenge. |
Cert Denied 7-Oct-24 |
|
(23-7662) |
5th Cir. |
3-June-24 |
Second Amendment and Commerce Clause challenge to § 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1), which prohibits felons from possessing firearms. |
Cert Denied 7-Oct-24 |
|
(23-7653) |
5th Cir. |
3-June-24 |
Second Amendment and Commerce Clause challenge to § 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1), which prohibits felons from possessing firearms; whether to hold pending Rahimi. |
Cert Denied 7-Oct-24 |
|
(23-1225) |
4th Cir. |
17-May-24 |
First Amendment challenge to local ordinance requiring gun stores to display and distribute suicide-prevention and conflict-resolution literature. |
Cert Denied 7-Oct-24 |
|
(23-7554) |
5th Cir. |
16-May-24 |
Second Amendment challenge to § 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1), which prohibits felons from possessing firearms. |
Cert Denied 7-Oct-24 |
|
(23-7501) |
10th Cir. |
15-May-24 |
Second Amendment challenge to § 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1), which prohibits felons from possessing firearms. |
Granted, vacated, and remanded post-Rahimi 7-Oct-24 |
|
(23-7293) |
10th Cir. |
19-Apr-24 |
Second Amendment and Commerce Clause challenge to § 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1), which prohibits felons from possessing firearms. |
Granted, vacated, and remanded post-Rahimi 7-Oct-24 |
|
(23-6842) |
8th Cir. |
23-Feb-24 |
Whether 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1), which prohibits those convicted of felony offenses from possessing firearms, is invariably constitutional both facially and as-applied to any defendant, no matter the case-specific circumstances. |
Granted, vacated, and remanded post-Rahimi 2-July-24 |
|
(23-910) |
2d Cir. |
20-Feb-24 |
The proper historical reference point for Bruen's analogical inquiry; whether "good moral character" public carry permitting requirements violate the Second Amendment. |
Granted, vacated, and remanded post-Rahimi 2-July-24 |
|
National Association for Gun Rights And related challenges to Illionois' PICA |
7th Cir. |
12-Feb-24 |
Second Amendment challenge to Illinois' ban on certain semiautomatic firearms and large-capacity magazines; "common use" test. |
Cert Denied 2-July-24 (separate statement by Justice Thomas) |
|
(23-6602) |
8th Cir. |
25-Jan-2024 |
Second Amendment challenge to § 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1), which prohibits those convicted of felony offenses from possessing firearms. |
Granted, vacated, and remanded post-Rahimi 2-July-24 |
|
(23-683) |
10th Cir. |
21-Dec-2023 |
As-applied Second Amendment challenge to § 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1), which prohibits those convicted of felony offenses from possessing firearms, which prohibits those convicted of felony offenses from possessing firearms. |
Granted, vacated, and remanded post-Rahimi 2-July-24 |
|
(23-6170) |
8th Cir. |
28-Nov-2023 |
As-applied Second Amendment challenge to § 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1). which prohibits those convicted of felony offenses from possessing firearms. |
Granted, vacated, and remanded post-Rahimi 2-July-24 |
|
(23-455) |
5th Cir. |
31-Oct-2023 |
Facial Second Amendment challenge to § 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(8), the domestic-violence restraining order ban. |
Granted, vacated, and remanded post-Rahimi 2-July-24 |
|
(23-376) |
5th Cir. |
5-Oct-2023 |
As-applied Second Amendment challenge to § 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(3), which prohibits those who are "unlawful user[s] of or addicted to any controlled substance" from possessing firearms. |
Granted, vacated, and remanded post-Rahimi 2-July-24 |
|
(23-374) |
3d Cir. |
5-Oct-2023 |
As-applied challenge to § 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1), which prohibits those convicted of felony offenses from possessing firearms. |
Granted, vacated, and remanded post-Rahimi 2-July-24 |
|
(23-62) |
6th Cir. |
21-July-2023 |
Whether a bump stock device constitutes a "machinegun" as defined by federal legislation, and whether ATF acted outside of its statutory authorization in subjecting bump stocks to heightened regulation under the NFA. |
Cert Denied 24-June-24 |
|
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (22-1222) |
D.C. Cir. |
14-June-2023 |
Whether a bump stock device constitutes a "machinegun" as defined by federal legislation, and whether ATF acted outside of its statutory authorization in subjecting bump stocks to heightened regulation under the NFA. |
Granted, vacated, and remanded post-Cargill 24-June-24 |
|
(23-886) |
Mass. Supreme Ct. |
14-Feb-24 |
Application of double jeopardy rules to attempted re-trial for unlicensed gun possession given intervening change in law due to Bruen; whether non-licensure is an essential element of the crime or proof of licensure is an affirmative defense. |
Cert Denied 24-Jun-24 |
|
(22-915) |
5th Cir. |
17-Mar-2023 |
Facial Second Amendment challenge to § 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(8), which prohibits those subject to certain domestic-violence restraining orders from possessing firearms during the duration of the order. |
Decided 21-Jun-24 |
|
(23-995) |
2d Cir. |
7-Mar-24 |
Second Amendment challenge to NY commercial regulations applying to federally-licensed firearm dealers. |
Cert Denied 17-June-24 |
|
(23-7231) |
Oklahoma Ct. of Criminal App. |
25-Jan-24 |
Ineffective assistance of counsel claim re failure to notify criminal defendant of potential loss of Second Amendment rights due to conviction for misdemeanour domestic violence offense. |
Cert Denied 17-Jun-24 |
|
(22-976) |
5th Cir. |
6-Apr-2023 |
Whether a bump stock device constitutes a "machinegun" as defined by federal legislation, and whether ATF acted outside of its statutory authorization in subjecting bump stocks to heightened regulation under the NFA. |
Decided 14-Jun-24 |
|
(23-7451) |
5th Cir. |
8-May-24 |
Second Amendment and Commerce Clause challenge to § 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1), which prohibits those convicted of felony offenses from possessing firearms. |
Cert Denied 10-June-24 |
|
(23-7421) |
5th Cir. |
6-May-24 |
Whether Rahimi potentially impacts plain-error analysis for unpreserved 922(g)(1) challenge. |
Cert Denied 10-June-24 |
|
(23-7419) |
5th Cir. |
6-May-24 |
Whether Rahimi potentially impacts plain-error analysis for unpreserved 922(g)(1) challenge. |
Cert Denied 10-June-24 |
|
(23-7402) |
5th Cir. |
3-May-24 |
Second Amendment and Commerce Clause challenge to § 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1), which prohibits those convicted of felony offenses from possessing firearms; whether to hold pending Rahimi. |
Cert Denied 10-June-24 |
|
(23-7401) |
5th Cir. |
3-May-24 |
Second Amendment and Commerce Clause challenge to § 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1), which prohibits those convicted of felony offenses from possessing firearms; whether to hold pending Rahimi. |
Cert Denied 10-June-24 |
|
(23-7433) |
8th Cir. |
1-Apr-24 |
Second Amendment challenge to § 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1), which prohibits those convicted of felony offenses from possessing firearms. |
Cert Denied 10-June-24 |
|
(23-6521) |
Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division |
16-Jan-24 |
Second Amendment challenge to NJ's pre-Bruen public-carry permitting law requiring a showing of heightened need; retroactivity of Bruen. |
Cert Denied 10-June-24 |
|
The National Rifle Association of America (22-842) |
2d Cir. |
7-Feb-2023 |
First Amendment challenge by the NRA to state government guidance urging financial institutions to consider the reputational risks of doing business with gun-rights organizations. |
Decided 30-May-24 |