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Bondi v. VanDerStok

Docket No. Op. Below Argument Opinion Vote Author Term
23-852 5th Cir. Oct 8, 2024 Mar 26, 2025 7-2 Gorsuch OT 2024

Holding: The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives's 2022 rule interpreting the Gun Control Act of 1968 to cover certain products that can readily be converted into an operational firearm or a functional frame or receiver is not facially inconsistent with the act.

Judgment: Reversed, 7-2, in an opinion by Justice Gorsuch on March 26, 2025. Justices Sotomayor, Kavanaugh, and Jackson each filed concurring opinions. Justices Thomas and Alito each filed dissenting opinions.

SCOTUSblog Coverage

DateProceedings and Orders (key to color coding)
02/07/2024Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due March 8, 2024)
03/07/2024Brief amici curiae of District of Columbia, et al. filed.
03/07/2024Brief of respondents Jennifer VanDerStok, et al. in opposition filed.
03/08/2024Brief of respondents Defense Distributed, et al. filed.
03/08/2024Brief amicus curiae of Gun Violence Protection Groups filed.
03/27/2024DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 4/12/2024.
03/27/2024Reply of petitioners Merrick B. Garland, Attorney General, et al. filed. (Distributed)
04/15/2024DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 4/19/2024.
04/22/2024Petition GRANTED.
04/29/2024Motion for an extension of time filed.
04/29/2024Motion 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 June 25, 2024. The time to file respondents' brief on the merits is extended to and including August 13, 2024.
06/25/2024Brief of petitioners Merrick B. Garland, Attorney General, et al. filed.
06/25/2024Joint appendix filed. (Statement of cost filed)
07/01/2024Brief amicus curiae of Constitutional Accountability Center filed.
07/02/2024Brief amicus curiae of Queens County District Attorney's Office filed.
07/02/2024Brief amici curiae of Frank Blackwell, et al. filed.
07/02/2024Brief amici curiae of Major Cities Chiefs Association, et al. filed.
07/02/2024Brief amici curiae of The Local Government Legal Center, The National Association Of Counties, The National League Of Cities, And The International Municipal Lawyers Association filed.
07/02/2024Brief amici curiae of American Medical Association, et al. filed.
07/02/2024Brief amici curiae of Professors and Scholars of Linguistics and Law filed.
07/02/2024Brief amici curiae of The District of Columbia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, et al. filed.
07/02/2024Brief amici curiae of 20 Major Cities, et al. filed.
07/02/2024Brief amicus curiae of Gun Owners for Safety filed.
07/02/2024Brief amici curiae of Gun Violence Prevention Groups filed.
07/02/2024Brief amicus curiae of Global Action on Gun Violence filed.
07/02/2024Brief amici curiae of District Attorney for New York County and City of New York filed.
07/26/2024SET FOR ARGUMENT on Tuesday, October 8, 2024.
07/26/2024Record requested from the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
07/30/2024Record received from the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. The record is electronic and is available on PACER.
08/02/2024Record received electronically from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas and available with the Clerk.
08/08/2024CIRCULATED
08/13/2024Brief of respondents Jennifer VanDerStok, et al. filed. (Distributed)
08/13/2024Brief of respondents Defense Distributed; Polymer 80, Inc., et al. filed. (Distributed)
08/20/2024Brief amicus curiae of National Association of Sporting Goods Wholesalers filed. (Distributed)
08/20/2024Brief amici curiae of Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, et al. filed. (Distributed)
08/20/2024Brief amici curiae of Former Acting Chief of ATF Firearms Technology Branch Rick Vasquez and Center for Human Liberty filed. (Distributed)
08/20/2024Brief amici curiae of National Association for Gun Rights and the National Foundation for Gun Rights filed. (Distributed)
08/20/2024Brief amicus curiae of California Gun Rights Foundation filed. (Distributed)
08/20/2024Brief amici curiae of The Firearms Regulatory Accountability Coalition and Palmetto State Armory, LLC filed. (Distributed)
08/20/2024Brief amicus curiae of National Shooting Sports Foundation, Inc. filed. (Distributed)
08/20/2024Brief amicus curiae of Foundation for Moral Law filed. (Distributed)
08/20/2024Brief amicus curiae of National Rifle Association of America filed. (Distributed)
08/20/2024Brief amici curiae of Gun Owners of America, Inc., et al. filed. (Distributed)
08/20/2024Brief amici curiae of West Virginia, Montana, and 25 Other States filed. (Distributed)
09/12/2024Reply of petitioners Merrick B. Garland, Attorney General, et al. filed. (Distributed)
09/26/2024Letter and attachment from Solicitor General regarding the reply brief filed on September 12, 2024. filed. (Distributed)
10/01/2024Letter of respondents Jennifer VanDerStok, et al. filed. (Distributed)
10/08/2024Argued. For petitioners: Elizabeth B. Prelogar, Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C. For respondents: Peter A. Patterson, Washington, D. C.
03/26/2025Judgment REVERSED and case REMANDED. Gorsuch, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Roberts, C. J., and Sotomayor, Kagan, Kavanaugh, Barrett, and Jackson, JJ., joined. Sotomayor, J., Kavanaugh, J., and Jackson, J., each filed concurring opinions. Thomas, J., and Alito, J., each filed dissenting opinions.
04/28/2025Judgment Issued.