Tag: U.S. Supreme Court Cases

Point of Law

U.S. Supreme Court Case Could Affect Murder Trial of Ohio Officer

Defense attorneys for Jason Meade, a former Franklin County sheriff’s deputy who fatally shot Casey Goodson Jr., successfully requested a delay for his criminal trial to await direction from the Barnes v. Felix decision.

January 29, 2025

Point of Law

Supreme Court to Hear Case on Constitutionality of K-9 Sniff

Idaho's top court concluded in March that K-9 Nero's exuberance amounted to a warrantless search, so it tossed the conviction.

September 5, 2023

Point of Law

Supreme Court Rules Officers Can’t be Sued for Miranda Violations

Justice Samuel Alito wrote in his majority opinion that “a violation of Miranda is not itself a violation of the Fifth Amendment” and “we see no justification for expanding Miranda to confer a right to sue” under the federal law known as Section 1983.

June 24, 2022

Point of Law

Point of Law: SCOTUS’ Ruling on Malicious Prosecution

What does the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Thompson v Clark mean for you.

May 11, 2022

Point of Law

Point of Law: Recent Rulings on Exigency

A 2021 case involving an Iowa police department reveals how the Supreme Court is refining the exigent circumstances exemption.

February 2, 2022

Patrol

Supreme Court Grants Qualified Immunity to Officers in 2 Cases

The court overturned the lower-court decisions without ordering full briefing and argument, a sign it did not see them as close calls. There were no dissents.

October 19, 2021

Point of Law

Supreme Court Rules Against Officer in Warrantless Entry Over Misdemeanor

Writing for the unanimous court, Justice Elena Kagan said police had no right to enter the man's home without a warrant for such a trivial offense.

June 23, 2021

Point of Law

Supreme Court Rules Tribal Police Can Detain Non-Natives who Violate State or Federal Laws

The unanimous ruling overturned lower courts that said a Crow police officer should not have held a nontribal member who was found to have drugs and weapons in his truck.

June 9, 2021

Point of Law

Supreme Court Hearing Case on When Officers Can Enter Home Without Warrant

The lower courts ruled that police could enter the home and under the so-called the community care-taking exception to the Constitution's warrant requirement. Representing Edward Caniglia, lawyer Shay Dvoretzky said that an exception like that would "eviscerate" the warrant protections of the Fourth Amendment.

March 25, 2021

Point of Law

Supreme Court Makes It Easier to Sue Police for Excessive Force

The court determined that in order to sue for excessive force under the Fourth Amendment, it is not necessary for a plaintiff to have been physically seized by law enforcement.

March 25, 2021

Point of Law

Supreme Court Considering Case Involving Jurisdiction of Tribal Police on Public Roads Crossing Reservation Land

Some justices expressed concern about public safety if tribal officers lacked power to stop and detain non-Native Americans. Conservative Justice Clarence Thomas wondered what would happen if an officer encountered a known serial killer.

March 23, 2021

Point of Law

SCOTUS Backs Police in Traffic Stops

The Supreme Court said in an 8-1 decision that unless there's reason to believe otherwise, it's common sense for an officer to think the car's owner will be driving.

April 6, 2020