No. 19-6909October Term 2019Decided Apr 27, 2020Updated Sep 3, 2026
Rosa v. Rhodes
The Court declined review, leaving the Ninth Circuit's result in place without deciding the merits of Rosa's claims.
Case status
Decided · April 27, 2020
- Current stage
- Decided
- Latest event
- Decision released Apr 27, 2020
- What it's about
Efrain J. Rosa challenged the dismissal of his civil complaint and the lower courts’ refusals to let him amend the complaint or appoint counsel. The Supreme Court denied review, leaving the Ninth Circuit’s decision in place without deciding the merits of Rosa’s claims.
Question presented
1. Whether the District Court and the Court of Appeals erred in dismissing Petitioner's complaint for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted? 2. Whether the District Court and the Court of Appeals erred in denying Petitioner's motion for leave to amend his complaint? 3. Whether the District Court and the Court of Appeals erred in denying Petitioner's motion for appointment of counsel?
- Case path
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit / Decision released Apr 27, 2020
- Area
Decided Supreme Court case
Decision
What the Court decided
The Court declined review, leaving the Ninth Circuit's result in place without deciding the merits of Rosa's claims.
Impact
The Ninth Circuit result remained in place for Rosa. More broadly, people alleging that prosecutors withheld evidence do not get a new Supreme Court review when the Court declines certiorari (its decision whether to hear a case).
Not official Court text.
Briefing
What it's about
The Supreme Court declined to review Rosa's challenge to a Ninth Circuit decision on April 27, 2020. Rosa alleged that the government withheld favorable evidence and challenged the lower courts' dismissal of his complaint, denial of amendment, and refusal to appoint counsel.
Impact
The Ninth Circuit result remained in place for Rosa. More broadly, people alleging that prosecutors withheld evidence do not get a new Supreme Court review when the Court declines certiorari (its decision whether to hear a case).
What's next
The Supreme Court has finished its action on this docket. The lower-court result remains in effect.
What did the Supreme Court do in Rosa v. Rhodes?
The Court declined to hear Rosa's case. It did not decide whether his due-process claims were correct.
Who is affected by the outcome in Rosa v. Rhodes?
Rosa remains subject to the Ninth Circuit result. The Court's refusal to hear the case did not change the legal rules for other defendants.
What happens next after Rosa v. Rhodes?
The Supreme Court action is complete. The Ninth Circuit's result remains in place.
Timing
Decided April 27, 2020
The Court released its decision on April 27, 2020 without hearing oral argument.
Documents
Activity
Docket activity2
AI analysis generated: Case Briefing
Sep 3, 2026 | Generated
Brief added: Petition
Dec 3, 2019 | 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