2021 Supreme Court Preview Moot Court

On Friday, September 10, 2021 at 4:05pm, the Supreme Court Preview will feature a moot court of New York Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen. In Bruen, The Supreme Court will decide whether the Second Amendment protects the right to carry a gun outside the home. At issue in the case that will be mooted is a New York law that requires a person who wants to carry a concealed firearm outside the home to show “proper cause” – meaning a special need for self-protection. Two men challenged the law after New York rejected their concealed-carry applications. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit upheld the law.

Please note that the Supreme Court Preview's annual Moot Court is an educational role-playing exercise only and does not necessarily reflect the views of the participants.

New York Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen (No. 20-843)

Issues: (1) Whether the state of New York's denial of petitioners' applications for concealed-carry licenses for self-defense violated the Second Amendment.

Lower Court Opinion

New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Beach (United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit)

Party Briefs

Supplemental Materials

Overview of New York State Rifle & Pistol Association Inc. v. Bruen - SCOTUSblog
Supreme Court to Hear Case on Carrying Guns in Public - Adam Liptak, New York Times
The Supreme Court’s conservatives may have the votes to expand Second Amendment rights – Joan Biskupic, CNN
Supreme Court Will Consider Right to Carry Handgun in Public – Greg Stohr, Bloomberg
The Supreme Court just agreed to hear a Second Amendment case. That’s bad news for gun regulation activists. – Amanda Hollis-Brusky, Washington Post
Supersizing the Second Amendment – Garrett Epps, The Atlantic
Supreme Court to Take Up 1st Major Gun Rights Case in More Than A Decade – Nina Totenberg, NPR