Novotny v. Moore
Rescheduled 3 Times · PendingNo. 25-1324
Maryland's list of "sensitive places" where licensed carriers can't bring a gun — parks, museums, bars, health care facilities, and more
Where things stand
On January 20, 2026, a divided Fourth Circuit panel upheld most of Maryland's list — including government buildings, public transit, school grounds, state parks, museums, health care facilities, stadiums, casinos, and places that sell alcohol — but struck down the rule barring guns on private property open to the public without the owner's permission. The Court scheduled the petition for its September 28, October 9, and October 16 conferences and postponed it each time before the conference. No vote has been announced.
Potential impact
This would be the Court's first full look at "sensitive places" since Bruen — the question it left open when it denied Schoenthal in April 2026. Because Wolford and the Fourth Circuit already disposed of Maryland's private-property rule, this case is about the rest of the list, which resembles sensitive-places laws in several other states.
Timeline (from official SCOTUS docket)
- Oct 13, 2026 Distributed for October 16 conference — rescheduled
- Oct 5, 2026 Distributed for October 9 conference — rescheduled
- Sep 24, 2026 Rescheduled from the September 28 conference
- Sep 2, 2026 Petitioners' reply filed; distributed for conference
- Aug 17, 2026 Maryland's brief in opposition filed
- Apr 15, 2026 Petition filed with the Court
- Jan 20, 2026 4th Circuit upheld most of Maryland's sensitive-places list