Hessiani v. United States
In brief
The Supreme Court refused to hear Hessiani’s case, so it did not rule on the structural-error question or decide who was entitled to relief.
- Where it stands
- Case remanded
Remanded · May 18, 2020
- What it’s about
- The Court granted Hessiani’s petition, vacated the Ninth Circuit’s judgment, and sent the case back for reconsideration in light of Greer v. United States.
- Who it affects
- The denial resolved only Hessiani’s request for Supreme Court review; it did not determine whether the claimed notice error required relief.
Summary: written with AI from the case record.
What it's about
In Greer, the Court held that a failure to advise a defendant of the knowledge-of-status element required by Rehaif is not automatically a structural error; the defendant must satisfy ordinary plain-error review, a position favoring the United States.
The case concerned whether a trial court had to explain the knowledge-of-status requirement in a federal firearm-possession offense to the defendant.
Question presented
Whether the district court’s failure to advise a defendant of the “knowledge-of-status” element of a 18 U.S.C. § 922(g) offense, as required by Rehaif v. United States, 139 S. Ct. 2191 (2019), constitutes structural error?
What the Court decided
Holding
Petition DENIED.
- Result
- Remanded
What's next
The Supreme Court’s action on this docket is complete. The record shows no further Supreme Court step and contains no merits ruling on the question.
Documents
Opinions
Key filings
Docket activity
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AI analysis generated: Case Briefing
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More questions
- Did the Court apply Greer to Hessiani’s case?
- No. This docket records only a denied petition, not a Supreme Court merits ruling applying Greer.
- Did the denial endorse either side’s position?
- No. The order was procedural and did not decide the merits or who was entitled to relief.
Sources
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.