No. 19-8079October Term 2019Decided Apr 20, 2020Updated Sep 3, 2026
Shoulder v. United States
The Court declined review, leaving the Ninth Circuit's result in place without deciding the merits.
Case status
Decided · April 20, 2020
- Current stage
- Decided
- Latest event
- Decision released Apr 20, 2020
- What it's about
This is a pending case where the petitioner has asked the Supreme Court to review a lower court decision involving the United States government, while also requesting permission to proceed without paying standard filing fees.
Question presented
Whether a conviction for an offense that can be committed with a mens rea of "negligence" or "recklessness" can be a "violent felony" under the Armed Career Criminal Act, 18 U.S.C. § 924(e)?
- Case path
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit / Decision released Apr 20, 2020
- Area
Decided Supreme Court case
Decision
What the Court decided
The Court declined review, leaving the Ninth Circuit's result in place without deciding the merits.
Impact
The decision left the lower-court result in place for the parties. It matters to defendants whose earlier convictions may affect longer sentences under the Armed Career Criminal Act.
Not official Court text.
Briefing
What it's about
The Supreme Court declined to review the Ninth Circuit case on April 20, 2020. It did not decide whether an offense committed negligently or recklessly can count as a "violent felony" under the Armed Career Criminal Act.
Impact
The decision left the lower-court result in place for the parties. It matters to defendants whose earlier convictions may affect longer sentences under the Armed Career Criminal Act.
What's next
The Supreme Court has finished its docket action. The case remains governed by the lower-court result.
What did the Supreme Court rule in Shoulder v. United States?
The Court declined to review the case. It did not decide the legal question about prior convictions and the Armed Career Criminal Act.
Who is affected by the Shoulder case?
The immediate effect is on the parties in the case. The issue concerns defendants whose prior convictions may be used to seek enhanced federal sentences.
What happens next in Shoulder v. United States?
The Supreme Court has finished its action. The Ninth Circuit's result remains in place for this 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 3, 2026 | Generated
Brief added: Petition
Mar 16, 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 3, 2026
- Method
- Methodology