Overview
- The Justice Department under President Trump asked the court to reverse a Fifth Circuit ruling that limited the law’s use to people proven intoxicated while possessing a gun.
- The case centers on Ali Danial Hemani, after an FBI search in Texas found a 9mm pistol, about 60 grams of marijuana and 4.7 grams of cocaine, with no showing he was under the influence at the time.
- Multiple appeals courts, including the Fifth and Eighth Circuits, have narrowed the statute’s application, creating a split that prompted Supreme Court review.
- Prosecutors argue habitual illegal drug users with firearms pose unique safety risks and say the prohibition is a temporary disqualification that ends if unlawful drug use stops.
- The justices are expected to hear arguments in 2026 and issue a decision by June 2026, as they also weigh a separate challenge to Hawaii’s concealed-carry location restrictions.