Supreme Court of the United States

United States v. Bean

December 10, 2002537 U.S. 71

Summary

The Supreme Court held that federal district courts lack jurisdiction under 18 U.S.C. § 925(c) to grant relief from firearms disabilities when the ATF has not actually denied an application because of an appropriations bar. The Court reasoned that judicial review under § 925(c) requires a prior actual decision by ATF, not mere inaction.