Summary: Federal criminal appeal in case where the 3-judge panel ruled that “firearm accessories," such as suppressors, are not protected by the Second Amendment.

Plaintiffs: United States of America

Defendants: George Peterson

Litigation Counsel: Richard J. Richthofen, Jr., Cody J. Wisniewski, David H. Thompson, Peter A. Patterson, and Jack Tucker

Docket: Fifth Circuit case no. 24-30043, Supreme Court case no. 25-1076 | CourtListener Docket

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Key Events & Filings:

Supreme Court

• 2026-4-20: Petition DENIED.
• 2026-4-1: DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 4/17/2026.
• 2026-3-30: Waiver
• 2026-3-9: Petition for Writ of Certiorari

Court of Appeals

• 2025-12-18: Mandate
• 2025-12-18: Order Denying Appellant's Unopposed Motion to Stay the Issuance of Mandate
• 2025-12-15: Unopposed Motion to Stay Issuance of Mandate
• 2025-12-9: Order Denying Petition for Rehearing En Banc
• 2025-12-9: Opinion
• 2025-12-8: Order Vacating the Order Withholding Issuance of the Mandate in Appeal
• 2025-10-14: Government’s Opposition to Petition for Rehearing En Banc
• 2025-9-22: Appellee's Unopposed Motion for Extension of Time to File Petition for Rehearing En Banc
• 2025-9-10: Defendant-Appellant's Petition for Rehearing En Banc
• 2025-8-27: Opinion
• 2025-6-25: Clerk Order Dismissing En Banc Petition
• 2025-6-17: Court Directive Withdrawing Opinion
• 2025-6-12: Letter Brief of Defendant-Appellant George Peterson
• 2025-5-29: Order
• 2025-5-23: Government’s Supplemental Response to Defendant-Appellant's Petition for Rehearing En Banc
  
• 2025-4-23: Order
• 2025-4-18: Government’s Second Unopposed Motion to Delay Ruling on Defendant-Appellant’s Petition for Rehearing En Banc
  
• 2025-3-24: Order
• 2025-3-20: Government’s Unopposed Motion to Delay Ruling on Defendant-Appellant’s Petition for Rehearing En Banc
  
• 2025-3-17: United States’s Response to Peterson’s Petition for Rehearing En Banc
  
• 2025-3-6: Defendant-Appellant’s Petition for Rehearing En Banc
  
• 2025-2-6: Opinion

Related News Releases:

• 2025-3-10: FPC-Backed NFA Suppressor Challenge Seeks Supreme Court Review
• 2025-9-12: FPC-Backed NFA Suppressor Challenge Seeks Full Fifth Circuit Review
• 2025-8-27: FPC Blasts Fifth Circuit’s Flawed Suppressor Ruling
• 2025-6-17: FPC LAWSUIT UPDATE: Fifth Circuit Withdraws Flawed Suppressor Decision in FPC-Backed Challenge to NFA
• 2025-6-12: Federal Silencer Laws Are Unconstitutional, Argues Fifth Circuit Brief in FPC-Backed Challenge to NFA
• 2025-3-20: FPC and FPCAF Tee Up Challenge to NFA Firearm ‘Silencer’ Laws in Fifth Circuit, Seek Full-Court Review of Dangerous 3-Judge Panel Decision