Plain-English summary
State drug convictions count for ACCA if the drug was federally scheduled at the time of the state crime
The Court held that for the Armed Career Criminal Act's 15‑year mandatory minimum, a prior state drug conviction qualifies as an ACCA predicate if the substance involved was listed on the federal drug schedules when the state offense occurred. The decision affirms the Third Circuit.
Why this matters
The decision determines which past drug convictions can trigger ACCA’s severe 15-year mandatory minimum based on federal drug scheduling at the time of the state offense. That affects sentence length for people with prior state drug convictions and gives clearer rules for judges and lawyers about how to evaluate past convictions under federal law.
Who may feel it
- People facing federal sentences who have prior state drug convictions
- Defense attorneys and federal prosecutors in sentencing proceedings
- Federal judges deciding ACCA predicate issues
- State courts and legislatures interested in interactions between state drug laws and federal sentencing
Key questions
- Which version of federal drug law (the federal schedules in effect when the state offense occurred or a later amended schedule) should courts consult to decide whether a prior state drug conviction qualifies as an ACCA predicate?