Wilkinson Stekloff secured a favorable settlement for a pro bono client whose firearm license was unconstitutionally revoked by the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
In the summer of 2019, our client applied for a firearm registration certificate and a concealed pistol license. He complied with every step of D.C.’s rigorous application process, and satisfied each of D.C.’s stringent statutory and regulatory requirements. After reviewing his applications and all relevant facts, MPD rightfully approved both applications. Yet just six months later, MPD revoked both his firearm registration certificate and concealed pistol license based on his history of arrests alone— even though those arrests had not resulted in any convictions and the most serious charges against him had been dropped by the government after further investigation revealed that he had not committed the crimes of which he had been accused.
Wilkinson Stekloff filed a lawsuit under Section 1983, arguing that MPD’s revocation of his firearm licenses violated the Second Amendment. Our attorneys successfully defeated D.C.’s motion to dismiss, persuading the district court that our client had a viable Second Amendment claim.
Following a settlement hearing on December 3, 2025, Associates Jenna Pavelec, Owen Gallogly, and Quinton Weinstein, with assistance from Partner Kieran Gostin, secured a favorable settlement on behalf of our client that fully restored his Second Amendment rights. D.C. agreed to promptly reinstate his concealed pistol license, and further agreed not to consider his prior arrest history in any future firearm applications. Other team members included Counsel Matthew Skanchy and Associates Pirzada Ahmad and Tania Martinez.
Wilkinson Stekloff has maintained a deep and lasting commitment to providing pro bono representation. Since its 2016 founding, the firm has handled more than 100 pro bono matters, with the vast majority of its attorneys devoting significant time across areas including family law, immigration, post-conviction representation, appeals, and filing amicus briefs. Wilkinson Stekloff has been recognized by organizations including Chambers and Partners, Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll, DC Volunteer Lawyers Project, Law360 Pulse, and the Los Angeles Center for Law and Justice for making this crucial work a central element of firm life.