Abramski v. United States
| Docket No. | Op. Below | Argument | Opinion | Vote | Author | Term |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12-1493 | 4th Cir. | Jan 22, 2014 | Jun 16, 2014 | 5-4 | Kagan | OT 2013 |
Holding: Regardless whether the actual buyer could have purchased the gun, a person who buys a gun on someone else’s behalf while falsely claiming that it is for himself makes a material misrepresentation punishable under 18 U.S.C. § 922(a)(6), which prohibits knowingly making false statements “with respect to any fact material to the lawfulness of a sale of a gun.”
Judgment: Affirmed, 5-4, in an opinion by Justice Kagan on June 16, 2014. Justice Scalia filed a dissenting opinion, in which Chief Justice Roberts, Justice Thomas, and Justice Alito joined.
SCOTUSblog Coverage
- Opinion analysis: No stand-in gun buyers allowed (Lyle Denniston, June 16, 2014)
- Argument recap: When compromise is the problem (Lyle Denniston, January 22, 2014)
- Argument preview: Checking up on gun buyers (Lyle Denniston, January 21, 2014)
| Date | Proceedings and Orders |
|---|---|
| Apr 2 2013 | Application (12A955) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from April 23, 2013 to June 22, 2013, submitted to The Chief Justice. |
| Apr 4 2013 | Application (12A955) granted by The Chief Justice extending the time to file until June 21, 2013. |
| Jun 21 2013 | Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due July 25, 2013) |
| Jul 19 2013 | Order extending time to file response to petition to and including August 26, 2013. |
| Jul 25 2013 | Brief amici curiae of Steve Stockman, et al. filed. |
| Jul 25 2013 | Brief amicus curiae of NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund filed. |
| Aug 26 2013 | Brief of respondent United States in opposition filed. |
| Sep 9 2013 | Reply of petitioner Bruce James Abramski, Jr. filed. |
| Sep 11 2013 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of September 30, 2013. |
| Oct 7 2013 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of October 11, 2013. |
| Oct 15 2013 | Petition GRANTED. |
| Oct 24 2013 | Petitioner will file the joint appendix and petitioner's brief on the merits on or before November 26, 2013. |
| Oct 24 2013 | Respondent will file respondent's brief on the merits on or before December 24, 2013. |
| Nov 4 2013 | SET FOR ARGUMENT ON Wednesday, January 22, 2014. |
| Nov 4 2013 | Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs, in support of either party or of neither party, received from counsel for the petitioner. |
| Nov 14 2013 | Record received from U.S.D.C. Western District of Virginia. The record is electronic (Not on PACER). |
| Nov 18 2013 | Record received from the U. S. C. A. Fourth Circuit - (1 envelope). A portion of the record is electronic (Not on PACER). There are also sealed documents in this record. |
| Nov 26 2013 | Joint appendix (2 volumes) filed. (Statement of costs filed.) |
| Nov 26 2013 | Brief of petitioner Bruce James Abramski, Jr. filed. |
| Dec 3 2013 | Brief amicus curiae of Steve Stockman, et al. filed. |
| Dec 3 2013 | Brief amicus curiae of NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund filed. (Distributed) |
| Dec 3 2013 | Brief amici curiae of Robert Snellings and Ulysses Grant Early, IV filed. (Distributed) |
| Dec 3 2013 | Brief amici curiae of State of West Virginia, et al. filed. (Distributed) |
| Dec 4 2013 | CIRCULATED. |
| Dec 23 2013 | Brief of respondent United States filed. (Distributed) |
| Dec 30 2013 | Brief amici curiae of States of Hawaii, et al. filed. (Distributed) |
| Dec 30 2013 | Brief amici curiae of Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, et al. filed. (Distributed) |
| Dec 30 2013 | Brief amicus curiae of City of New York filed. (Distributed) |
| Jan 13 2014 | Reply of petitioner Bruce James Abramski, Jr. filed. (Distributed) |
| Jan 22 2014 | Argued. For petitioner: Richard D. Dietz, Winston Salem, N. C. For respondent: Joseph R. Palmore, Assistant to the Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C. |
| Jun 16 2014 | Adjudged to be AFFIRMED. Kagan, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Kennedy, Ginsburg, Breyer, and Sotomayor, JJ., joined. Scalia, J., filed a dissenting opinion, in which Roberts, C. J., and Thomas and Alito, JJ., joined. |
| Jul 18 2014 | JUDGMENT ISSUED |
| Jul 22 2014 | Record returned for U.S.C.A. 4th Circuit. |
