No. 25-5358

Deontay Tyre Compton v. United States

Lower Court: Fourth Circuit
Docketed: 2025-08-14
Status: Denied
Type: IFP
Response WaivedRelisted (6)IFP Experienced Counsel
Tags: circuit-split constitutional-challenge felony-conviction firearm-possession second-amendment self-defense
Key Terms:
SecondAmendment
Latest Conference: 2026-01-16 (distributed 6 times)
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1)'s lifetime ban on firearm possession for all individuals previously convicted of any felony offense violates the Second Amendment, either facially or as applied to the Petitioner

Question Presented (OCR Extract)

Prior to this federal criminal case, Petitioner Deontay Compton’s only conviction of any kind was for carrying a loaded handgun in a vehicle. But see N.Y. State Rifle & Pistol Ass ’n, Inc. v. Bruen , 597 U.S. 1, 10 (2022) (holding that “ the Second and Fourteenth Amendments protect an individual ’s right to carry a handgun for self defense outside the home”). That offense is a misdemeanor under state law, and Mr. Compton received a suspended jail sentence. But because the maximum available sentence was more than one year, the offense is classified as a felony for federal purposes and the conviction resulted in Mr. Compton’s complete lifetime prohibition against possessing firearms. He was later again found in possession of a handgun during a traffic stop and charged under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). If he had been charged in the Third, Fifth, or Sixth Circuits, he would have been able to raise an as -applied challenge to the constitutionality of the statute . The Fourth Circuit and five other courts of appeals, however, have held that the law is cons titutional in all its applications, even as to those with old or minor or non -violent prior convictions. Due to this happenstance of geography, Mr. Compton’s potential constitutional claim was entirely foreclosed. The question presented in this case is w hether 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1)’s lifetime ban on firearm possession for all individuals previously convicted of any felony offense violates the Second Amendment, either facially or as applied to the Petitioner.

Docket Entries

2026-01-20
Petition DENIED.
2026-01-12
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/16/2026.
2026-01-05
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/9/2026.
2025-12-08
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 12/12/2025.
2025-12-01
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 12/5/2025.
2025-11-05
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 11/21/2025.
2025-10-06
Rescheduled.
2025-09-25
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 10/10/2025.
2025-08-21
Waiver of right of respondent United States to respond filed.
2025-08-12
Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due September 15, 2025)

Attorneys

Deontay Compton
Patrick L. BryantOffice of the Federal Public Defender, Petitioner
Patrick L. BryantOffice of the Federal Public Defender, Petitioner
United States
D. John SauerSolicitor General, Respondent
D. John SauerSolicitor General, Respondent