Justices Take Broad View of ‘Crime of Violence’ in Mob Case

The US Supreme Court rejected a narrow interpretation of a firearms sentencing enhancement after years of rulings that limited what crimes can be considered violent.

In a 7-2 ruling by Justice Clarence Thomas on Friday, the court said an attempted murder-for-hire was a crime of violence eligible for a five-year mandatory minimum sentence.

Defendant Salvatore Delligatti’s counter argument, which Justice Elena Kagan called “absurd” during arguments Nov. 12, depends on the so-called categorical approach, which courts use to determine if certain crimes are considered violent. Under that approach, courts don’t look at the defendant’s actual conduct, but the least culpable ...