No. 19-7154October Term 2019Decided Apr 27, 2020Updated Sep 5, 2026
In re Eaton
The Supreme Court declined to review Eaton's request, without deciding his underlying claims.
Case status
Decided · April 27, 2020
- Current stage
- Decided
- Latest event
- Decision released Apr 27, 2020
- What it's about
Corey Devon Eaton sought relief after the Sixth Circuit did not rule on his motions seeking permission to file a second or successive motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 and to reconsider an earlier denial. The Supreme Court denied Eaton’s request for relief, leaving the Sixth Circuit’s handling of those motions unchanged.
Question presented
1. Whether the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit abused its discretion by failing to rule on Petitioner’s properly filed and pending “Motion for Reconsideration of the Court’s Order Denying Petitioner’s Motion for Leave to File a Second or Successive Motion to Vacate, Set Aside, or Correct Sentence Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255”? 2. Whether the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit abused its discretion by failing to rule on Petitioner’s properly filed and pending “Motion for Leave to File a Second or Successive Motion to Vacate, Set Aside, or Correct Sentence Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255”?
- Case path
Decision released Apr 27, 2020
- Area
Decided Supreme Court case
Decision
What the Court decided
The Supreme Court declined to review Eaton's request, without deciding his underlying claims.
Impact
The outcome affects Eaton's effort to seek another challenge to his sentence. More broadly, prisoners seeking permission to file a second or successive § 2255 motion remain subject to the appellate court process.
Not official Court text.
Briefing
What it's about
Corey Devon Eaton asked the Supreme Court to intervene after the Sixth Circuit did not rule on his requests to file another motion challenging his sentence. The Court declined review and did not decide the merits, leaving the Sixth Circuit's handling of those motions unchanged.
Impact
The outcome affects Eaton's effort to seek another challenge to his sentence. More broadly, prisoners seeking permission to file a second or successive § 2255 motion remain subject to the appellate court process.
What's next
The Supreme Court has finished this docket action. The Sixth Circuit's handling of Eaton's motions remains unchanged.
What did the Supreme Court rule in In re Eaton?
The Court declined to review Eaton's request. It did not decide the merits of his claims or alter the Sixth Circuit's handling of his motions.
Who is affected by In re Eaton?
Eaton is directly affected because his effort to pursue another sentence challenge was not taken up by the Supreme Court. Other federal prisoners face similar procedural limits.
What happens next in In re Eaton?
The Supreme Court's docket action is complete. Eaton's pending requests remain governed by the Sixth Circuit's treatment of them.
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 5, 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 5, 2026
- Method
- Methodology