No. 19-7931October Term 2019Decided Apr 20, 2020Updated Sep 5, 2026
Lopez v. United States
The Court left Lopez's sentence in place without resolving whether her prior state conviction qualified under the federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Case status
Decided · April 20, 2020
- Current stage
- Decided
- Latest event
- Decision released Apr 20, 2020
- What it's about
The Court denied Lopez’s petition for review, leaving the Fifth Circuit’s ruling and sentence in place. Lopez had argued that her prior state drug conviction could not count as a “controlled substance offense” under the federal Sentencing Guidelines because the state law covered conduct involving substances beyond the federal definition.
Question presented
Whether a prior conviction for a state drug offense is a “controlled substance offense” under the United States Sentencing Guidelines, when the state statute is broader than the federal definition of a controlled substance?
- Case path
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit / Decision released Apr 20, 2020
- Area
Criminal Procedure
Decision
What the Court decided
The Court left Lopez's sentence in place without resolving whether her prior state conviction qualified under the federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Impact
The action leaves the Fifth Circuit's approach in place for defendants like Lopez whose prior state drug convictions may affect federal sentencing. Lopez argued that her state law covered substances beyond the federal definition.
Not official Court text.
Briefing
What it's about
The Supreme Court declined to review Lopez's case and did not decide the merits of her argument. Her sentence and the Fifth Circuit's decision remained in place.
Impact
The action leaves the Fifth Circuit's approach in place for defendants like Lopez whose prior state drug convictions may affect federal sentencing. Lopez argued that her state law covered substances beyond the federal definition.
What's next
The Supreme Court has finished its action in this case. The Fifth Circuit's decision and Lopez's sentence remain in effect.
What did the Supreme Court rule in Lopez v. United States?
The Court declined to review the case. It did not decide whether Lopez's prior state drug conviction qualified under federal sentencing rules.
Who is affected by the Lopez decision?
Defendants in the Fifth Circuit with prior state drug convictions may face sentencing consequences under the lower court's approach.
What happens next in Lopez v. United States?
No further Supreme Court action is scheduled. Lopez's sentence remains in place under the Fifth Circuit's decision.
Timing
Decided April 20, 2020
The Court released its decision on April 20, 2020 without hearing oral argument.
Documents
Activity
Docket activity2
AI analysis generated: Case Briefing
Sep 5, 2026 | Generated
Brief added: Petition
Mar 4, 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 5, 2026
- Method
- Methodology