No. 19-1047October Term 2019Decided Apr 27, 2020Updated Sep 3, 2026
Weiss v. Marsh
The Supreme Court declined review, leaving the California Court of Appeal's result in place without deciding the merits.
Case status
Decided · April 27, 2020
- Current stage
- Decided
- Latest event
- Decision released Apr 27, 2020
- What it's about
This case involves a petition for a writ of certiorari to review a decision by the Court of Appeal of California, Fourth Appellate District. The specific legal issues and facts of the dispute are not detailed in the available records.
Question presented
Whether the First Amendment’s Petition Clause protects a beneficiary’s filing of a petition in probate court to remove a trustee for alleged breach of fiduciary duty, such that the filing cannot be the basis for a subsequent lawsuit or a motion to strike under a state anti-SLAPP statute?
- Case path
Court of Appeal of California, Fourth Appellate District, Division Three / Decision released Apr 27, 2020
- Area
First Amendment
Decision
What the Court decided
The Supreme Court declined review, leaving the California Court of Appeal's result in place without deciding the merits.
Impact
The lower-court result remains in place for the parties. For example, a trust beneficiary who asks a probate court to remove a trustee may still face claims tied to that filing under the California appellate court's decision.
Not official Court text.
Briefing
What it's about
On April 27, 2020, the Supreme Court declined to review Weiss v. Marsh, a dispute over a beneficiary's probate-court petition seeking to remove a trustee for alleged breach of fiduciary duty. The Court did not decide whether the First Amendment protects that filing from a later lawsuit or a California anti-SLAPP challenge.
Impact
The lower-court result remains in place for the parties. For example, a trust beneficiary who asks a probate court to remove a trustee may still face claims tied to that filing under the California appellate court's decision.
What's next
The Supreme Court has finished its action on this docket. Any further proceedings would occur outside this Supreme Court case.
What did the Supreme Court do in Weiss v. Marsh?
The Court declined to review the case on April 27, 2020. It did not decide the First Amendment question raised by the petition.
Who is affected by the outcome in Weiss v. Marsh?
The immediate effect is on the parties, including a trust beneficiary and trustee. The California Court of Appeal's result remains in place for them.
What happens next after Weiss v. Marsh?
The Supreme Court has completed its docket action. Further steps, if any, would take place outside this Supreme Court case.
Timing
Decided April 27, 2020
The Court released its decision on April 27, 2020 without hearing oral argument.
Activity
Docket activity2
AI analysis generated: Case Briefing
Sep 3, 2026 | Generated
Brief added: Petition
Feb 17, 2020 | Court records
Related cases
Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary materials plus reporting.
- Note
- Best-effort analysis: this explainer relies on a mix of primary materials and trusted secondary sources. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Sep 3, 2026
- Method
- Methodology