No. 19-7930October Term 2019Decided April 20, 2020Updated Sep 3, 2026
Pearson v. United States
The Court declined review, leaving the Eleventh Circuit's result in place without resolving the First Step Act question.
Case status
Where it stands
Decided · April 20, 2020
Question presented
Whether Florida’s robbery statute, Fla. Stat. § 812.13, which can be committed by “sudden snatching” or by using only the force necessary to overcome a victim’s resistance, qualifies as a “violent felony” under the Armed Career Criminal Act’s elements clause, 18 U.S.C. § 924(e)(2)(B)(i)?
Timeline
Decision
What the Court decided
The Court declined review, leaving the Eleventh Circuit's result in place without resolving the First Step Act question.
Impact
The action leaves the lower-court result in place for Pearson. It does not settle when a sentence is considered “imposed” for people seeking relief under Section 403 of the First Step Act.
Briefing
What it's about
The Supreme Court declined to review Pearson's request to send his case back to the Eleventh Circuit for consideration of the First Step Act. The Court did not decide the merits of whether the Act required resentencing.
Impact
The action leaves the lower-court result in place for Pearson. It does not settle when a sentence is considered “imposed” for people seeking relief under Section 403 of the First Step Act.
What's next
The Supreme Court has finished its action in this case. Pearson's case remains governed by the lower-court result.
What did the Supreme Court do in Pearson v. United States?
The Court declined to review Pearson's case. It did not decide whether the First Step Act required that he be resentenced.
Who is affected by the First Step Act question in Pearson's case?
People convicted before the First Step Act may be affected if their sentences were still under appeal when the law took effect.
What happens next in Pearson's case?
The Supreme Court's action is complete. The lower-court result remains in effect for Pearson.
Timing
Decided April 20, 2020
The Court released its decision on April 20, 2020 without hearing oral argument.
Documents
Activity
AI analysis generated: Case Briefing
Brief added: Petition
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Primary materials plus reporting. Best-effort analysis: this explainer relies on a mix of primary materials and trusted secondary sources. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.