No. 17-9560October Term 2018Decided Jun 21, 2019
Rehaif v. United States
This case asked whether, to convict someone under the federal law banning certain people from possessing firearms, the government must prove not only that the person knowingly possessed a gun but also that he knew he belonged to a prohibited category, such as being unlawfully in the United States.
Case status
- Current stage
- Decided
- Latest event
- Decision released Jun 21, 2019
- What it's about
This case asked whether, to convict someone under the federal law banning certain people from possessing firearms, the government must prove not only that the person knowingly possessed a gun but also that he knew he belonged to a prohibited category, such as being unlawfully in the United States. The Supreme Court held that the government must prove both.
Question presented
Whether the "knowingly" provision of § 924(a)(2) applies to both the possession and status elements of a § 922(g) crime, as has been urged by then-Judge, now Justice Gorsuch, or whether it applies only to the possession element, as has been held by the courts.
- Case path
United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit / Decision released Jun 21, 2019
- Area
Gun Rights
Timing
Decided June 21, 2019
The Court released its decision on June 21, 2019 without hearing oral argument.
Related cases
Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary-source trail available.
- Note
- Plain-English explainer. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Jun 1, 2026
- Method
- Methodology