Brown v. United States
In brief
The Supreme Court declined to hear Brown’s petition, so it did not rule on which drug-schedule version controls.
- Where it stands
- Decided
Decided · May 18, 2020
- What it’s about
- This case involves a petition for a writ of certiorari filed in forma pauperis from the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. The specific facts and legal issues are not detailed in the available record.
- Who it affects
- The denial ended Brown’s request for Supreme Court review, but it left the date question undecided in this docket.
Summary: written with AI from the case record.
What it's about
This was a Supreme Court review petition from the Fifth Circuit about how a prior state drug conviction is treated under the federal Armed Career Criminal Act.
Question presented
Whether the “categorical approach” for determining whether a prior conviction is a “serious drug offense” under the Armed Career Criminal Act, 18 U.S.C. § 924(e), requires a court to look to the version of the federal drug schedules in effect at the time of the federal firearm offense, or the version in effect at the time of the prior state conviction?
What the Court decided
Holding
Petition DENIED.
What's next
The Court has finished this docket action. The record contains no Supreme Court merits ruling on the question.
Documents
Opinions
Key filings
Docket activity
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AI analysis generated: Case Briefing
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More questions
- Did the denial endorse either side’s position?
- No. Refusing to hear the petition was procedural and did not endorse either side’s arguments.
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.