No. 19-8005October Term 2019Decided Apr 20, 2020Updated Sep 5, 2026
Garcia v. United States
The Supreme Court declined review, leaving the Eleventh Circuit’s result in place without deciding the legal question.
Case status
Decided · April 20, 2020
- Current stage
- Decided
- Latest event
- Decision released Apr 20, 2020
- What it's about
The Supreme Court declined to review Garcia’s challenge to the use of a prior state conviction as a “violent felony” under the Armed Career Criminal Act. The denial left the Eleventh Circuit’s ruling for the United States in place.
Question presented
Whether the "categorical approach" to determining whether a prior conviction is a "violent felony" under the Armed Career Criminal Act, 18 U.S.C. § 924(e), requires a court to consider the "realistic probability" that the state would apply the statute to conduct that does not meet the federal definition of a "violent felony" when the state statute is not overbroad on its face.
- Case path
United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit / Decision released Apr 20, 2020
- Area
Decided Supreme Court case
Decision
What the Court decided
The Supreme Court declined review, leaving the Eleventh Circuit’s result in place without deciding the legal question.
Impact
The denial left the Eleventh Circuit’s result for the United States in place. It affects federal defendants whose prior state convictions may be used to increase punishment under the Armed Career Criminal Act.
Not official Court text.
Briefing
What it's about
On April 20, 2020, the Supreme Court declined to review Garcia’s challenge to treating a prior state conviction as a violent felony under the Armed Career Criminal Act. The Court did not decide the merits of the categorical-approach question.
Impact
The denial left the Eleventh Circuit’s result for the United States in place. It affects federal defendants whose prior state convictions may be used to increase punishment under the Armed Career Criminal Act.
What's next
The Supreme Court has finished this docket action. Garcia’s case remains governed by the Eleventh Circuit’s decision.
What did the Supreme Court do in Garcia v. United States?
The Court declined to review Garcia’s case. It did not decide whether the categorical approach required a realistic-probability analysis.
Who is affected by the Garcia case?
Federal defendants with prior state convictions may be affected when those convictions are used to classify them as violent felons. The Eleventh Circuit’s result remains in force.
What happens next in Garcia v. United States?
The Supreme Court’s docket action is complete. The Eleventh Circuit’s decision continues to govern Garcia’s case.
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
Feb 18, 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