Constitutional & Appeals

Viramontes v. Cook County

U.S. Supreme Court (from the 7th and 2nd Circuits), No. 25-238, consolidated with Grant v. Higgins, No. 25-566

Where it stands

Cert. granted June 30, 2026 and consolidated. The Solicitor General asked for 10 minutes of argument time as amicus.

Next up, Dec 2, 2026

Oral argument, one hour, consolidated with Grant v. Higgins.

The question

Do the Second and Fourteenth Amendments protect possession of AR-15-platform and similar semiautomatic rifles, so that categorical bans like Cook County's and Connecticut's are unconstitutional?

Why it matters

This is the first time the Court will rule directly on bans of the most common semiautomatic rifles. The answer will decide the fate of similar state and local bans across the country. The United States filed an amicus brief supporting the challengers.

Timeline

  1. The Solicitor General moves to argue as amicus supporting petitioners. (source)
  2. Set for argument on Dec. 2, 2026. (source)
  3. Certiorari granted. Cases consolidated, one hour allotted. (source)

Sources