No. 19-8145October Term 2019Decided Apr 27, 2020
Cruz v. Betancourt
The Supreme Court's docket action ended without a merits opinion in Cruz's case, so the Ninth Circuit's result remained in place.
Case status
- Current stage
- Decided
- Latest event
- Decision released Apr 27, 2020
- What it's about
This is a pending Supreme Court case appealed from the Ninth Circuit by a petitioner seeking to proceed in forma pauperis.
Question presented
1. Whether the Second Circuit Court of Appeals erred in affirming the District Court's dismissal of Petitioner's 42 U.S.C. § 1983 complaint for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted? 2. Whether the Second Circuit Court of Appeals erred in affirming the District Court's denial of Petitioner's motion for leave to amend his complaint? 3. Whether the Second Circuit Court of Appeals erred in affirming the District Court's denial of Petitioner's motion for appointment of counsel?
- 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
Santiago Cruz asked the Supreme Court to review the Ninth Circuit's handling of his federal civil rights case, including the dismissal of his complaint and the denial of requests to amend it and get counsel. The Court finished the docket action on April 27, 2020, without a full merits opinion, leaving the lower-court result in place.
Impact
When the justices do not take a case for full review, the lower-court outcome stays effective for the parties. That matters for people filing civil rights suits without lawyers, because they usually must live with the appeals court's answer.
What's next
There is no further action scheduled in this Supreme Court docket. The case is over at the Court, and any practical consequences now come from the lower-court judgment.
What was Cruz v. Betancourt about?
Cruz asked the justices to review the dismissal of his federal civil rights case. He also challenged denials of amendment and appointed counsel.
Who is affected by Cruz v. Betancourt?
Cruz is directly affected because the Ninth Circuit result remains in place. Other people bringing civil rights cases without lawyers may see how hard Supreme Court review can be.
What happens next in Cruz v. Betancourt?
Nothing else is scheduled in this Supreme Court docket. The Court's action is complete, and the lower-court result stays in effect.
Decision
What the Court decided
The Supreme Court's docket action ended without a merits opinion in Cruz's case, so the Ninth Circuit's result remained in place.
Impact
When the justices do not take a case for full review, the lower-court outcome stays effective for the parties. That matters for people filing civil rights suits without lawyers, because they usually must live with the appeals court's answer.
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