The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit granted New Jersey's request to stay its mandate on August 4, 2026, pausing the procedural effect of its July ruling against parts of the state's firearm restrictions while New Jersey prepares a Supreme Court petition. The two-page order covers consolidated appeals Nos. 24-2415, 24-2450, and 24-2506. It does not withdraw, revise, or rehear the appellate court's Second Amendment decision.

What the court paused

The order stays issuance of the Third Circuit's mandate until the Supreme Court disposes of New Jersey's anticipated petition for a writ of certiorari, or until the filing period expires if the state does not petition. If the Supreme Court grants review, the mandate will remain stayed through the justices' final decision on the merits. The order is signed by Circuit Judge Arianna J. Freeman and contains no separate explanation of the court's reasoning.

A mandate is the appellate court's formal instruction returning authority to the lower court to proceed under the appellate judgment. The immediate, narrow consequence here is that the July judgment has not been sent back to the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. In its stay motion, the state described the requested result as preserving the existing legal status quo while further review is pursued. The order itself does not create a new firearm rule or decide any additional constitutional question.