No. 25-7697October Term 2025Before Arguments
Nathaniel David Struening, Petitioner v. United States
from the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.
Case status
- Current stage
- Before Arguments
- Latest event
- Accepted by the Court
- Decision timing
- No window until argument is scheduled.
- What it's about
from the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.
Question presented
1. Whether the appellate court violated Petitioner's constitutional right to proceed pro se by ignoring his proceed pro se in September 2024 before the Opening Brief was submitted? 2. Whether the district court plainly erred in proceeding to sentencing without a presentence investigati the docket? 3. Whether the district court and appellate court plainly erred in knowingly and vindictively applying the pre-2016 Sentencing Guideliness to an offense for which it knew all relevant conducted occurred in and af?
- Case path
United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit / Accepted by the Court
- Area
Criminal Procedure
Timing
Expected by late June 2026, if argued this term
The Court granted review but has not yet scheduled oral argument. Once argued, the median case reaches a decision in 94 days. Nearly all cases are decided by the end of the term in which they are argued.
Briefing
What it's about
Nathaniel David Struening is asking the Supreme Court to review his Eleventh Circuit case. He says the appellate court ignored his request to represent himself and that the lower courts made sentencing errors, including using older Sentencing Guidelines (federal sentencing rules).
Argument
The case is still at the petition stage, and no oral argument is scheduled. Struening's filing says the appellate court ignored his request to proceed without a lawyer and that the lower courts made sentencing errors.
Impact
The petition could matter for criminal defendants who want to handle their own appeals instead of using a lawyer. For example, a defendant who says a court ignored his self-representation request or used the wrong sentencing rules could watch this case.
What is Struening v. United States about?
Struening says the appellate court ignored his request to represent himself. He also says the lower courts made serious sentencing errors, including using older guidelines.
What is at stake in Struening v. United States?
The case could matter for defendants who want to handle their own appeals. It also could affect challenges to sentencing steps and which guideline rules courts use.
What happens next in Struening v. United States?
The Supreme Court will decide whether to take the case or make another scheduling move. No oral argument is scheduled, and no decision window is listed yet.
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 17, 2026
- Method
- Methodology