Courthouse Steps Oral Argument: United States v. Hemani

On March 2, 2026, the Supreme Court will hear oral argument in United States v. Hemani. This case explores whether a federal law that criminalizes possession of firearms by an individual who is an "unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance" violates the Second Amendment. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit held this law unconstitutional as applied to most drug users, determining it could only be applied consistent with the Second Amendment to "those presently impaired." Hemani is the latest in a series of challenges the courts have confronted since the Supreme Court announced in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen that laws burdening firearms possession must comport with our nation's historical tradition of firearm regulation.

Join us for a Courthouse Steps program where we will recap and analyze the oral argument at the Supreme Court.

Featuring:

Prof. F. Lee Francis, Associate Professor, Widener Law Commonwealth
Marc Levin, Chief Policy Counsel, Council on Criminal Justice and Senior Advisor, Right on Crime
(Moderator) John Ohlendorf, Partner, Cooper & Kirk, PLLC