No. 19-8080October Term 2019Decided Apr 20, 2020Updated Sep 3, 2026
Solorzano v. United States
The Court declined review, leaving the Ninth Circuit's result in place without resolving 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, likely regarding a criminal matter given the request to proceed as a pauper.
Question presented
Whether the “force clause” in the definition of a “crime of violence” in 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(3)(A) encompasses offenses that can be committed with a mens rea of recklessness?
- 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 resolving the merits.
Impact
The lower-court result remains in place for Solorzano. The question can affect defendants facing added penalties under the federal gun law when the underlying offense involved recklessness.
Not official Court text.
Briefing
What it's about
The Court declined to review Solorzano's challenge involving whether the federal gun-law definition of a crime of violence covers offenses committed recklessly. It did not decide that legal question.
Impact
The lower-court result remains in place for Solorzano. The question can affect defendants facing added penalties under the federal gun law when the underlying offense involved recklessness.
What's next
The Supreme Court has finished its action on this petition. The lower-court result remains in effect.
What did the Supreme Court do in Solorzano v. United States?
The Court declined to hear the case. It did not decide whether reckless conduct fits the federal definition of a crime of violence.
Who is affected by the Solorzano case?
The immediate effect is on Solorzano because the Ninth Circuit result remains in place. Similar federal defendants may also care about the unresolved legal question.
What happens next in Solorzano v. United States?
The Supreme Court's action is complete. The Ninth Circuit's result remains in effect.
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 17, 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