Paul, Weiss Wins Grant of Cert Petition in Pro Bono Criminal Case

The Supreme Court granted a Paul, Weiss petition for a writ of certiorari on behalf of a pro bono client who is challenging his sentence under the Armed Career Criminal Act, based on his prior convictions for “violent felonies.” The question before the Supreme Court is whether a criminal offense that can be committed with a mens rea of recklessness, as opposed to knowledge or purpose, can qualify as a “violent felony” under that Act. The outcome is likely to have a major impact on the hundreds of criminal defendants every year who are subject to the Act’s 15-year mandatory minimum sentence, especially considering the large number of potential predicate offenses that carry a reckless mens rea.

The Paul, Weiss team representing our client in Walker v. United States, No. 19-373 includes litigation partner Kannon Shanmugam, counsel Masha Hansford and associates Jessica Morton, Benjamin Moskowitz and Nicholas Handler.