QUESTION PRESENTED:This case presents a clear and intractable conflict regarding an important jurisdictional qNew York prohibits its ordinary law-abiding citizens from carrying a handgun outside the home without a license, and it denies licenses to every citizen who fails to convince the state that he or she has “proper cause” to carry a firearm. In District of Columbia v. Heller, this Court held that the Second Amendment protects “the individual right to possess and carry weapons in case of confrontation,” 554 U.S. 570, 592 (2008), and in McDonald v. City of Chicago, the Court held that this right “is fully applicable to the States,” 561 U.S. 742, 750 (2010). For more than a decade since then, numerous courts of appeals have squarely divided on this critical question: whether the Second Amendment allows the government to deprive ordinary law-abiding citizens of the right to possess and carry a handgun outside the home. This circuit split is open and acknowledged, and it is squarely presented by this petition, in which the Second Circuit affirmed the constitutionality of a New York regime that prohibits law-abiding individuals from carrying a handgun unless they first demonstrate some form of “proper cause” that distinguishes them from the body of “the people” protected by the Second Amendment. The time has come for this Court to resolve this critical constitutional impasse and reaffirm the citizens’ fundamental right to carry a handgun for self-defense.
The question presented is: Whether the Second Amendment allows the government to prohibit ordinary lawabiding citizens from carrying handguns outside the home for self- defense.
DateProceedings and Orders (
key to color coding)
Dec 17 2020 |
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due January 22, 2021)Dec 23 2020 | Blanket Consent filed by Petitioner, New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc., et al.
Jan 08 2021 |
Motion to extend the time to file a response from January 22, 2021 to February 22, 2021, submitted to The Clerk.Jan 11 2021 | Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including February 22, 2021.
Jan 21 2021 |
Brief amici curiae of Firearms Policy Coalition and Firearms Policy Foundation filed.Jan 22 2021 |
Brief amicus curiae of Korte Enterprises, LLC, d/b/a Korte Tree Care filed.Jan 22 2021 |
Brief amici curiae of State of Missouri.et al. filed.Jan 22 2021 |
Brief amici curiae of Law Enforcement Groups and State and Local Firearms Rights Groups filed.Feb 12 2021 |
Brief amicus curiae of Neal Goldfarb filed. (Brief corrected 3/1/21)Feb 22 2021 |
Brief of respondents Keith M. Corlett, et al. in opposition filed.Mar 10 2021 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 3/26/2021.
Mar 10 2021 |
Reply of petitioners New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc., et al. filed. (Distributed)Mar 29 2021 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 4/1/2021.
Apr 12 2021 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 4/16/2021.
Apr 19 2021 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 4/23/2021.
Apr 26 2021 | Petition GRANTED limited to the following question: Whether the State's denial of petitioners' applications for concealed-carry licenses for self-defense violated the Second Amendment.
May 07 2021 |
Motion for an extension of time file the briefs on the merits filed.May 11 2021 | Motion to extend the time to file the briefs on the merits granted. The time to file the joint appendix and petitioners' brief on the merits is extended to and including July 2, 2021. The time to file respondents' brief on the merits is extended to and including August 23, 2021.
May 27 2021 | Blanket Consent filed by Petitioner, New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc., et al.
Jun 16 2021 |
Motion for an further extension of time to file the briefs on the merits filed.Jun 25 2021 | Motion to further extend the time to file the briefs on the merits granted. The time to file the joint appendix and petitioners' brief on the merits is further extended to and including July 13, 2021. The time to file respondents' brief on the merits is further extended to and including September 14, 2021.
Jul 09 2021 |
Brief amicus curiae of Alabama Center for Law and Liberty filed.Jul 13 2021 |
Brief of petitioners New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc., et al. filed.Jul 13 2021 |
Joint appendix filed.Jul 13 2021 |
Brief amici curiae of Professors of Second Amendment Law, et al. filed.Jul 14 2021 |
Brief amicus curiae of Claremont Institute's Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence filed.Jul 14 2021 |
Brief amici curiae of Bay Colony Weapons Collectors, Inc. filed.Jul 15 2021 |
Brief amicus curiae of Association of New Jersey Rifle & Pistol Clubs, Inc. filed.Jul 15 2021 |
Brief amici curiae of Italo-American Jurists and Attorneys filed.Jul 16 2021 |
Brief amicus curiae of National African American Gun Association, Inc. filed.Jul 16 2021 |
Brief amicus curiae of Mountain States Legal Foundation's Center to Keep and Bear Arms filed.Jul 16 2021 |
Brief amicus curiae of George K. Young Jr. filed.Jul 19 2021 |
Brief amicus curiae of Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms filed.Jul 19 2021 |
Brief amici curiae of Representative Claudia Tenney and 175 Additional Members of the U.S. House of Representatives filed.Jul 19 2021 |
Brief amicus curiae of The Buckeye Institute filed.Jul 19 2021 |
Brief amici curiae of The DC Project Foundation; Operation Blazing Sword—Pink Pistols; Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership filed.Jul 19 2021 |
Brief amicus curiae of Patrick J. Charles in support of neither party filed.Jul 20 2021 |
Brief amicus curiae of J. Joel Alicea filed.Jul 20 2021 |
Brief amici curiae of Black Attorneys of Legal Aid, et al. filed.Jul 20 2021 |
Brief amicus curiae of American Constitutional Rights Union filed.Jul 20 2021 |
Brief amicus curiae of National Shooting Sports Foundation Inc. filed.Jul 20 2021 |
Brief amicus curiae of The Independent Institute filed.Jul 20 2021 |
Brief amici curiae of State of Arizona, et al. filed.Jul 20 2021 |
Brief amicus curiae of Governor of Texas filed.Jul 20 2021 |
Brief amici curiae of Law Enforcement Groups and State and Local Firearms Rights Groups filed.Jul 20 2021 |
Brief amicus curiae of American Center for Law and Justice filed.Jul 20 2021 |
Brief amici curiae of The Liberal Gun Club and Commonwealth Second Amendment filed.Jul 20 2021 |
Brief amici curiae of California Rifle & Pistol Association, Incorporated and Second Amendment Law Center, Inc filed.Jul 20 2021 |
Brief amicus curiae of Gun Owners of America, Inc., Gun Owners Foundation, and Heller Foundation filed.Jul 20 2021 |
Brief amici curiae of William English, Ph.D. and The Center for Human Liberty filed.Jul 20 2021 |
Brief amici curiae of Second Amendment Foundation, et al. filed.Jul 20 2021 |
Brief amici curiae of Lambert Henry, Russell Davenport, and Peter Fusco filed.Jul 20 2021 |
Brief amici curiae of Center for Defense of Free Enterprise, et al. filed.Jul 20 2021 |
Brief amicus curiae of The Cato Institute filed.Jul 20 2021 |
Brief amicus curiae of The League for Sportsmen, Law Enforcement and Defense filed.Jul 20 2021 |
Brief amici curiae of United States Senator Ted Cruz, and 24 Other U.S. Senators filed.Jul 20 2021 |
Brief amici curiae of National Foundation for Gun Rights and National Association for Gun Rights filed.Jul 20 2021 |
Brief amici curiae of Black Guns Matter, et al. filed.Jul 20 2021 |
Brief amici curiae of Professors Robert Leider and Nelson Lund, and the Buckeye Firearms Association filed.Jul 20 2021 |
Brief amicus curiae of Asian Pacific American Gun Owners Association filed.Jul 20 2021 |
Brief amici curiae of FPC American Victory Fund, et al. filed.Jul 20 2021 |
Brief amicus curiae of Madison Society Foundation, Inc. filed.Jul 20 2021 |
Brief amicus curiae of The Rutherford Institute filed.Jul 20 2021 |
Brief amicus curiae of The Goldwater Institute filed.Jul 20 2021 |
Brief amici curiae of The Firearms Policy Coalition and Professor Joyce Lee Malcolm filed.Jul 20 2021 |
Brief amicus curiae of Independent Women's Law Center filed.Jul 20 2021 |
Brief amicus curiae of NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund filed.Jul 20 2021 |
Brief amicus curiae of California Gun Rights Foundation filed.Jul 20 2021 |
Brief amici curiae of Second Amendment Law Professors in support of neither party filed.Jul 20 2021 |
Brief amicus curiae of Crime Prevention Research Center filed.Aug 16 2021 | ARGUMENT SET FOR Wednesday, November 3, 2021.
Sep 01 2021 | Record requested from the U.S.C.A. 2nd Circuit.
Sep 01 2021 | The record from the U.S.C.A. 2nd Circuit has been electronically filed.
Sep 01 2021 | The record from the U.S.D.C. Northern District of New York has been electronically filed.
Sep 13 2021 |
Brief amici curiae of J. Michael Luttig, et al. filed.Sep 14 2021 | Brief of Kevin P. Bruen, et al. not accepted for filing. (September 15, 2021)
Sep 14 2021 |
Brief of respondents Kevin P. Bruen, et al. filed.Sep 14 2021 |
Brief amicus curiae of Neal Goldfarb filed.Sep 20 2021 |
Brief amicus curiae of League of Women Voters filed. (Distributed)Sep 20 2021 |
Brief amici curiae of Amnesty International USA, et al. filed. (Distributed)Sep 21 2021 | CIRCULATED
Sep 21 2021 |
Brief amicus curiae of United States filed. (Distributed)Sep 21 2021 |
Motion of the Acting Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae, for divided argument, and for enlargement of time for oral argument filed.Sep 21 2021 |
Brief amicus curiae of Everytown for Gun Safety filed. (Distributed)Sep 21 2021 |
Brief amici curiae of The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, et al. filed. (Distributed)Sep 21 2021 |
Brief amicus curiae of Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence filed. (Distributed)Sep 21 2021 |
Brief amici curiae of States of California, et al. filed. (Distributed)Sep 21 2021 |
Brief amici curiae of American Civil Liberties Union and New York Civil Liberties Union filed. (Distributed)Sep 21 2021 |
Brief amicus curiae of Violence Policy Center filed. (Distributed)Sep 21 2021 |
Brief amicus curiae of American Bar Association filed. (Distributed)Sep 21 2021 |
Brief amici curiae of Former Major City Police Chiefs filed. (Distributed)Sep 21 2021 |
Brief amicus curiae of Americans Against Gun Violence filed. (Distributed)Sep 21 2021 |
Brief amici curiae of United States Senators Charles E. Schumer, et al. filed. (Distributed)Sep 21 2021 |
Brief amici curiae of NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund, Inc. and National Urban League filed. (Distributed)Sep 21 2021 |
Brief amici curiae of Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, Inc., et al. filed. (Distributed)Sep 21 2021 |
Brief amicus curiae of City of New York filed. (Distributed)Sep 21 2021 |
Brief amici curiae of American Medical Association, et al. filed. (Distributed)Sep 21 2021 |
Brief amici curiae of Professors of History and Law filed. (Distributed)Sep 21 2021 |
Brief amicus curiae of New York County Lawyers Association filed. (Distributed)Sep 21 2021 |
Brief amici curiae of Former National Security Officials filed. (Distributed)Sep 21 2021 |
Brief amicus curiae of March For Our Lives Action Fund filed. (Distributed)Sep 21 2021 |
Brief amicus curiae of Brady filed. (Distributed)Sep 21 2021 |
Brief amici curiae of City of Chicago and Eleven Other Cities filed. (Distributed)Sep 21 2021 |
Brief amicus curiae of Citizens Crime Commission of New York City filed. (Distributed)Sep 21 2021 |
Brief amici curiae of Members of the Business Community filed. (Distributed)Sep 21 2021 |
Brief amicus curiae of The Partnership for New York City filed. (Distributed)Sep 21 2021 |
Brief amici curiae of Corpus Linguistics Professors and Experts filed. (Distributed)Sep 21 2021 |
Brief amici curiae of Presiding Bishop and President of the House of Deputies of the Episcopal Church, et al. filed. (Distributed)Sep 21 2021 |
Brief amicus curiae of John Elson filed. (Distributed)Sep 21 2021 |
Brief amici curiae of National League of Cities, et al. filed. (Distributed)Sep 21 2021 | Amicus brief of The Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence and 35 Other Organizations not accepted for filing. (September 29, 2021 - Corrected version submitted).
Sep 21 2021 |
Brief amici curiae of The Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence and 35 Other Organizations filed. (Distributed)Sep 21 2021 |
Brief amici curiae of Social Scientists and Public Health Researchers in Support of Respondents filed. (Distributed)Sep 21 2021 | Amicus brief of Prosecutors Against Gun Violence not accepted for filing. (Compliant PDF version submitted October 25, 2021)
Sep 21 2021 |
Brief amicus curiae of Prosecutors Against Gun Violence filed. (Distributed)Sep 23 2021 |
Motion for leave to file amici brief out of time filed by Criminal Legal Scholars.Oct 12 2021 | Motion of the Acting Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae, for divided argument, and for enlargement of time for oral argument GRANTED.
Oct 12 2021 | Motion for leave to file amici brief out of time filed by Criminal Legal Scholars GRANTED.
Oct 14 2021 |
Reply of petitioners New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc., et al. filed. (Distributed)Oct 18 2021 | The time for oral argument is allotted as follows: 35 minutes for petitioners, 20 minutes for respondents, and 15 minutes for the Acting Solicitor General.
Nov 03 2021 | Argued. For petitioners: Paul D. Clement, Washington, D. C. For respondents: Barbara D. Underwood, Solicitor General, New York, N. Y.; and Brian H. Fletcher, Principal Deputy Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C. (for United States, as amicus curiae.)