Valentini v. United States
In brief
The Supreme Court refused to hear Valentini's case and did not rule on either of its two legal questions.
- Where it stands
- Decided
Decided · May 18, 2020
- What it’s about
- Valentini v. United States is a case appealed from the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.
- Who it affects
- The order ended Valentini's request for Supreme Court review; it did not answer either question in his case.
Summary: written with AI from the case record.
What it's about
The Supreme Court was asked to review the lower court's decision via a petition for a writ of certiorari.
The petition involved two federal criminal-law issues: how the Armed Career Criminal Act treats New York robbery and what a defendant must be told about knowledge in a firearm-possession case under Rehaif.
Question presented
1. Whether New York robbery in the third degree, N.Y. Penal Law § 160.05, is a “violent felony” under the Armed Career Criminal Act, 18 U.S.C. § 924(e)(2)(B)(i). 2. Whether the district court’s failure to advise Mr. Valentini at his guilty plea hearing that the government would have to prove he knew he belonged to the relevant category of persons barred from possessing a firearm, as required by Rehaif v. United States, 139 S. Ct. 2191 (2019), is structural error or, if not, whether it is plain error that warrants relief.
What the Court decided
Holding
Petition DENIED.
What's next
The Supreme Court has finished this action. No Supreme Court decision on these questions will follow from this petition.
Documents
Docket activity
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AI analysis generated: Case Briefing
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Sources
Primary materials plus reporting. Best-effort analysis: this explainer relies on a mix of primary materials and trusted secondary sources. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.