No. 19-8148October Term 2019Decided Apr 27, 2020Updated Sep 3, 2026
Cole v. United States
The Court declined review, leaving the Ninth Circuit's result in place without deciding the merits.
Case status
Decided · April 27, 2020
- 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 without paying court fees. The specific legal issues and facts of the case are not detailed in the available record.
Question presented
Whether a conviction for “aggravated assault” under Tennessee Code Annotated § 39-13-102(a)(1)(A)(iii) (2010), which can be committed with a “reckless” mens rea, qualifies as a “violent felony” under 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
Decision
What the Court decided
The Court declined review, leaving the Ninth Circuit's result in place without deciding the merits.
Impact
The Ninth Circuit's result remains in place for Cole. The question can affect people whose prior convictions may trigger longer sentences under the Armed Career Criminal Act.
Not official Court text.
Briefing
What it's about
The Supreme Court declined to review Cole's case. It did not decide whether Tennessee aggravated assault committed recklessly counts as a violent felony under a federal sentencing law.
Impact
The Ninth Circuit's result remains in place for Cole. The question can affect people whose prior convictions may trigger longer sentences under the Armed Career Criminal Act.
What's next
The Supreme Court has finished its action in this docket. Cole's case returns to the result already reached in the Ninth Circuit.
What did the Supreme Court do in Cole v. United States?
The Court declined to review the case. It did not decide the Tennessee aggravated-assault question.
Who could be affected by the issue in Cole v. United States?
People facing federal gun sentences may be affected if earlier Tennessee assault convictions are used to seek longer punishment.
What happens next in Cole v. United States?
The Supreme Court's docket action is complete. The Ninth Circuit's result remains in place for Cole.
Timing
Decided April 27, 2020
The Court released its decision on April 27, 2020 without hearing oral argument.
Documents
Activity
Docket activity2
AI analysis generated: Case Briefing
Sep 3, 2026 | Generated
Brief added: Petition
Jan 27, 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