No. 19-8106October Term 2019Decided Apr 27, 2020
Aragon v. United States
Based on the record provided, this docket ended without a Supreme Court merits answer to the underlying legal question.
Case status
- Current stage
- Decided
- Latest event
- Decision released Apr 27, 2020
- What it's about
This is a pending case appealed from the Ninth Circuit to the Supreme Court where the petitioner has filed for a writ of certiorari and requested to proceed without paying court fees.
Question presented
Whether the “reckless” proscription of New Mexico’s aggravated assault statute, N.M. Stat. Ann. § 30-3-2(A), satisfies the “use of physical force” requirement of the Armed Career Criminal Act, 18 U.S.C. § 924(e)(2)(B)(i)?
- Case path
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit / Decision released Apr 27, 2020
- Area
Decided Supreme Court case
Briefing
What it's about
The file contains conflicting descriptions of the issue, but the petition materials provided say Aragon asked the Supreme Court to review whether the Ninth Circuit had enough evidence to uphold his conspiracy conviction. The docket ended on April 27, 2020, and the provided record does not show a merits opinion from the justices.
Impact
Because the provided record does not show a Supreme Court merits opinion, this case did not set a new nationwide rule. For example, a federal defendant challenging a conviction in the Ninth Circuit would still look to existing lower-court decisions.
What's next
The Supreme Court has finished this docket action. Any remaining litigation would be in lower courts or through a new filing, not through this Supreme Court case.
What was Aragon v. United States about?
The petition materials say Aragon challenged whether the Ninth Circuit had enough evidence to uphold his conspiracy conviction. The provided record does not show a Supreme Court merits opinion.
Who is affected by the end of Aragon v. United States?
Aragon and other federal defendants in the Ninth Circuit are most directly affected. Without a Supreme Court merits opinion, existing lower-court rules still control.
What happens next in Aragon v. United States?
This Supreme Court docket is finished. Any further action would have to come in lower courts or through a new filing, not this case.
Decision
What the Court decided
Based on the record provided, this docket ended without a Supreme Court merits answer to the underlying legal question.
Impact
Because the provided record does not show a Supreme Court merits opinion, this case did not set a new nationwide rule. For example, a federal defendant challenging a conviction in the Ninth Circuit would still look to existing lower-court decisions.
Not official Court text.
Timing
Decided April 27, 2020
The Court released its decision on April 27, 2020 without hearing oral argument.
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
- Jul 25, 2026
- Method
- Methodology