Duncan v. Bonta
On Hold · No Conference SetNo. 25-198
California's 10-round magazine limit — can states cap how many rounds a magazine can hold?
What a ruling could mean
- If the Court takes it and the challengers win: California's 10-round magazine limit would be struck down, and magazine limits in more than a dozen other states would be in doubt.
- If the Court takes it and California wins: The limit stays, and states keep wide room to cap magazine size.
- If the Court declines to hear it: California's limit takes full effect, and the court order now protecting California owners ends.
Where things stand
Pending since August 2025 and scheduled for more than 20 conferences before the Court stopped setting it for conference after June 29, 2026. Both sides have since weighed in on the Third Circuit's ruling: petitioners filed a supplemental brief on August 3 arguing the deepened split is reason to grant now, and California's August 11 letter argued the issues overlap with the already-granted Viramontes and Grant cases. California owners are protected by a court-issued hold while this plays out; if cert is eventually denied, that hold lifts.
Why it matters
The Third Circuit's July 17 ruling striking down New Jersey's magazine ban directly conflicts with the Ninth Circuit decision challenged here; that ruling is stayed, and New Jersey has now asked the Supreme Court to review it (see Davenport).
Timeline (from official SCOTUS docket)
- Aug 11, 2026 Letter of respondent Bonta, Att'y Gen. of CA, received
- Aug 3, 2026 Supplemental brief of petitioners filed, citing the Third Circuit's Cheeseman ruling
- Jun 29, 2026 Distributed for the term's clean-up conference — no action; not scheduled since
- Jun 25, 2026 Distributed for conference — no action
- Jun 18, 2026 Distributed for conference — no action
- Nov 21, 2025 First scheduled for conference
- Aug 15, 2025 Petition filed with the Court