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United States v. Joseph Decore Simms

Paid petition · United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, No. 15-4640 · judgment January 24, 2019


Certiorari denied · October 7, 2019
Pre-decision estimate: 65% cert probability (95% interval 53%–75%)

Before the decision, about 15.8× the 4.1% base rate. The model weighted this up for a federal-government petitioner, counsel who has won certiorari before, and a circuit split argued in the petition.

Question presented

Whether the subsection-specific definition of “crime of violence” in 18 U.S.C. 924(c)(3)(B), which applies only in the limited context of a federal criminal prosecution for possessing, using, or carrying a firearm in connection with acts comprising such a crime, is unconstitutionally vague. (I)

Counsel of record

For petitioner
Noel John Francisco
Jones Day

For respondent
Dhamian A. Blue
Blue LLP

Case

Conference history
Distributed for 1 conference

Proceedings

  1. Oct 07 2019
    Motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed by respondent GRANTED.
  2. Oct 07 2019
    Petition DENIED.
  3. Jun 12 2019
    DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 10/1/2019.
  4. May 24 2019
    Response to petition from respondent Joseph Decore Simms filed.
  5. May 24 2019
    Motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed by respondent Joseph Decore Simms.
  6. Apr 24 2019
    Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due May 24, 2019)