United States v. Ducksworth: Affirming Felon in Possession Conviction

This episode discusses a Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals decision for the affirmation of Andrew Ducksworth’s conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The court rejected Ducksworth’s argument that his Fourth Amendment rights were violated during a traffic stop, ruling that the officer had reasonable suspicion to conduct a protective pat-down. This suspicion was based on the discovery of a weapon on the driver, the high-crime nature of the area, and the defendant's own movements. Additionally, the court dismissed Second Amendment challenges to the federal statute, noting that the defendant’s status as a parolee at the time of the arrest disqualified his claims. Finally, the judges held that Ducksworth’s legal stipulation to his prior felony status was sufficient evidence to support his conviction.