Summary: Federal lawsuit challenging New Jersey's "assault weapons" ban as unconstitutional under the Second Amendment.

Plaintiffs: Mark Cheeseman, Timothy Connelly, and Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC)

Defendants: Attorney General Matthew Platkin, New Jersey State Police Superintendent Patrick Callahan, Acting Gloucester County Prosecutor Christine Hoffman, and Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer

Litigation Counsel: Brad Lehman; Ray DiGuiseppe

Docket: D. NJ case no. 1:22-cv-04360, Third Circuit case nos. 24-2415, 24-2450, and 24-2506 | CourtListener Docket

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Key Events & Filings:

Court of Appeals

• 2024-11-18: Brief of Plaintiffs-Appellants Mark Cheeseman
• 2024-11-18: Brief for Appellants-Cross-Appellees Blake Ellman, Thomas R. Rogers, Marc Weinberg, and Association of New Jersey Rifle and Pistol Clubs

District Court

• 2024-8-21: Order Extending Stay Pending Appeal
• 2024-8-20: Joint Motion for Extension of Stay Pending Appeal
• 2024-8-13: Emergency Motion for Extension of Stay Pending Appeal and for 15-day Administrative Extension of Stay
• 2024-8-12: Order
• 2024-8-5: Notice of Cross-Appeal
• 2024-7-30: Notice of Appeal
• 2024-7-30: Order and Judgment
• 2024-7-30: Opinion
• 2024-6-25: Letter
• 2024-6-24: Letter from Office of the New Jersey Attorney General
• 2024-1-19: Combined Reply Brief in Support of State Defendants’ Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment
• 2023-12-15: Plaintiffs’ Combined Brief in Opposition to State Defendants’ Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment and Reply to State Defendants’ Opposition to Cheeseman Plaintiffs’ Motion for Summary Judgment
• 2023-11-03: Combined Brief in Opposition to Plaintiffs’ Motions for Summary Judgment and in Support of State Defendants’ Cross-motion for Summary Judgment
• 2023-10-6: Plaintiffs’ Motion for Summary Judgment
• 2022-12-14: TEXT ORDER In light of the pending motion to consolidate this action with Civ. No. 3:18-10507, this action shall be ADMINISTRATIVELY TERMINATED until such motion has been decided. This Court will address the pre-motion letters and responses filed by the parties at such time if necessary.
• 2022-11-18: State Defendants’ Motion for Consolidation
• 2022-8-30: Defendant Bradley D. Billhimer's Motion to Dismiss Plaintiffs' Amended Complaint in lieu of Answer
• 2022-8-26: Defendants Matthew J. Platkin’s and Patrick J. Callahan’s Answer to First Amended Complaint and Affirmative Defenses
• 2022-7-14: First Amended Complaint
• 2022-6-30: Complaint

News Releases:

• 2024-11-18: FPC Files First in New Jersey “Assault Weapon” Ban Appeal
• 2024-7-30: FPC Statement on Cheeseman Decision Striking Down Part of New Jersey's ‘Assault Weapons’ Ban
• 2023-10-10: FPC Files For Injunction Against New Jersey “Assault Weapon” Ban
• 2022-6-30: FPC Files Lawsuit Challenging New Jersey “Assault Weapon” Ban