No. 25-5280

Philip J. Marquis v. Massachusetts

Lower Court: Massachusetts
Docketed: 2025-08-05
Status: Denied
Type: IFP
Amici (3)Response RequestedResponse WaivedRelisted (2)IFP
Tags: constitutional-rights firearms-licensing interstate-travel nonresident-travelers police-discretion second-amendment
Key Terms:
SecondAmendment DueProcess
Latest Conference: 2026-01-09 (distributed 2 times)
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Does Massachusetts' firearms licensing regime, which grants a police colonel the power to deny any nonresident traveler a temporary firearms license based upon that officer's judgment of 'unsuitability,' violate nonresident travelers' constitutional rights to keep and bear arms and to interstate travel?

Question Presented (OCR Extract)

1. Does Massachusetts’ firearms licensing regime, which grants a police colonel the power to deny any nonresident traveler a temporary firearms license based upon that officer’s judgment of “unsuitability,” violate nonresident travelers’ constitutional rights to keep and bear arms and to interstate travel?

Docket Entries

2026-01-12
Petition DENIED.
2025-12-15
Reply of petitioner Philip Marquis filed. (Distributed)
2025-12-15
Reply of Philip Marquis submitted.
2025-12-11
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/9/2026.
2025-11-26
Brief of respondent Massachusetts in opposition filed.
2025-11-26
Brief of Commonwealth of Massachusetts in opposition submitted.
2025-09-19
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including November 28, 2025.
2025-09-18
Motion to extend the time to file a response from September 29, 2025 to November 28, 2025, submitted to The Clerk.
2025-09-18
Motion of Commonwealth of Massachusetts for an extension of time submitted.
2025-09-08
Amicus brief of Gun Owners' Action League, Inc. submitted.
2025-09-08
Brief amicus curiae of Gun Owners' Action League, Inc. filed.
2025-09-04
Brief amicus curiae of Cato Institute filed.
2025-09-04
Brief amici curiae of New Hampshire, et al. filed.
2025-09-04
Amicus brief of State of New Hampshire submitted.
2025-09-04
Amicus brief of Cato Institute submitted.
2025-08-29
Response Requested. (Due September 29, 2025)
2025-08-28
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 9/29/2025.
2025-08-27
Waiver of right of respondent Massachusetts to respond filed.
2025-08-27
Waiver of right of respondent Commonwealth of Massachusetts to respond filed.
2025-07-31
Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due September 4, 2025)
2025-06-02
Application (24A1180) granted by Justice Jackson extending the time to file until August 8, 2025.
2025-05-28
Application (24A1180) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from June 9, 2025 to August 8, 2025, submitted to Justice Jackson.

Attorneys

Cato Institute
Matthew P. CavedonCato Institute, Amicus
Matthew P. CavedonCato Institute, Amicus
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Jennifer Kay ZalnaskyOffice of the Attorney General of Massachusetts, Respondent
Jennifer Kay ZalnaskyOffice of the Attorney General of Massachusetts, Respondent
Timothy James CaseyMassachusetts Attorney General's Office, Respondent
Timothy James CaseyMassachusetts Attorney General's Office, Respondent
Gun Owners' Action League, Inc.
John Parker SweeneyBradley Arant Boult Cummings, LLP, Amicus
John Parker SweeneyBradley Arant Boult Cummings, LLP, Amicus
Philip Marquis
Kathryn Hayne BarnwellAttorney at Law, Petitioner
Kathryn Hayne BarnwellAttorney at Law, Petitioner
State of New Hampshire
Anthony Jordan GaldieriNew Hampshire Department of Justice, Amicus
Anthony Jordan GaldieriNew Hampshire Department of Justice, Amicus