In re: Alicia P
112 Misc.2d 326 (January 27, 1982)
Vague knife laws cannot be enforced against juveniles carrying a knife.
What knife laws (statutory law) mean is about more than the legislated law in the United States. Judicial opinions (case law, common law, or judicial precedent) are considered "law" with the same force as statutes. Here are pertinent case law summaries that provide helpful information on how the court system has handled or decided knife laws in different states. We include valuable notes for the knife owner. For attorneys representing knife issues, we offer suggestions from an experienced criminal lawyer.
Please also see articles in Know Your Knife Laws that cover additional case studies or do a search on a case title.
Court of Appeals of California Case Summary
People v. Pickett
2013 Cal. App. Unpub. LEXIS 8361 (November 13, 2013)
Second Amendment does not clearly apply to dirk knives and daggers under California law.
Wisconsin Court of Appeals Case Summary
State v. Hermann
2015 WI App 97 (Decided November 24, 2015)
A Wisconsin law that bans switchblades even in self-defense at home violates the 2nd Amendment.
U.S. District Court of New York Case Summary
Copeland v. Vance
2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 11654 (January 27, 2017)
The gravity knife law in New York is not overly vague.
California Supreme Court Case Summary
People v. Castillolopez
3 Cal. 4th 322 (2016)
A Swiss Army type knife is not a locking dagger or dirk knife, even when open, under California law.