Most Recent SCOTUS Cases

2024-25 Term:
Barnes v. Felix, 23-1239 (granted Oct. 4, 2024; argument Jan. 22, 2025). Question Presented from Petition: “Whether courts should apply the moment of the threat doctrine when evaluating an excessive force claim under the Fourth Amendment.” Per SCOTUSBlog: “Whether courts should apply the ‘moment of the threat’ doctrine, which looks only at the narrow window in which a police officer’s safety was threatened to determine whether his actions were reasonable, in evaluating claims that police officers used excessive force.”

2023–24 Term:
Gonzalez v. Trevino, 22-1025 (per curiam, June 20, 2024) (“In Nieves v. Bartlett, this Court held that probable cause does not bar a retaliatory arrest claim against a ‘police officer’ when a plaintiff shows ‘that he was arrested when otherwise similarly situated individuals not engaged in the same sort of protected speech had not been.’ 139 S. Ct. 1715, 1727 (2019). … The questions presented are: 1) Whether the Nieves probable cause exception can be satisfied by objective evidence other than specific examples of arrests that never happened. 2) Whether the Nieves probable cause rule is limited to individual claims against arresting officers for split-second arrests.” The first question is answered yes, and the Fifth Circuit shall reconsider.) (ScotusBlog)
Chiaverini v. City of Napoleon, Ohio, 23-50 (June 20, 2024) (“The presence of probable cause for one charge in a criminal proceeding does not categorically defeat a Fourth Amendment malicious-prosecution claim relating to another, baseless charge. The parties, and the United States as amicus curiae, all agree with this conclusion, which follows from both the Fourth Amendment and traditional common-law practice.”) (ScotusBlog)

2022–23 Term:
None.

2021–22 Term:
Thompson v. Clark, 142 S. Ct. 1332, 212 L.Ed.2d 382 (Apr. 4, 2022) (ScotusBlog: “Larry Thompson’s showing that his criminal prosecution ended without a conviction satisfies the requirement to demonstrate a favorable termination of a criminal prosecution in a Fourth Amendment claim under Section 1983 for malicious prosecution; an affirmative indication of innocence is not needed.”)
Egbert v. Boule, 142 S. Ct. 1793, 213 L.Ed.2d 54 (June 8, 2022) (ScotusBlog) (no Bivens claim for claims against federal officers engaged in immigration-related functions for allegedly violating a plaintiff’s Fourth and First Amendment rights)

2020–21 Term:
Torres v. Madrid, 141 S. Ct. 989, 209 L.Ed.2d 190 (Mar. 25, 2021) (ScotusBlog) (an unsuccessful attempt to detain a suspect by shooting her is a “seizure” within the meaning of the Fourth Amendment)
Lange v. California, 141 S. Ct. 2011, 210 L. Ed. 2d 486 (June 23, 2021) (ScotusBlog) (hot pursuit of a misdemeanant into a home unreasonable)
Caniglia v. Strom, 141 S. Ct. 1596, 209 L. Ed. 2d 604 (May 17, 2021) (ScotusBlog) (the “community caretaking” exception to the Fourth Amendment’s warrant requirement does not extend to the home)

2019–20 Term: 
Kansas v. Glover, 140 S. Ct. 1183, 206 L. Ed. 2d 412 (2020) (ScotusBlog) (it is reasonable for an officer to suspect that the registered owner of a vehicle is the one driving the vehicle absent any information to the contrary).   
Hernández v. Mesa, 140 S. Ct. 735, 206 L. Ed. 2d 29 (2020) (ScotusBlog) (no Bivens claim under Fourth and Fifth Amendment for a wanton cross-border shooting death by a Border Patrol Agent)

2018–19 Term:
Mitchell v. Wisconsin, 139 S. Ct. 2525, 204 L. Ed. 2d 1040 (2019) (ScotusBlog) (warrantless blood draw from unconscious motorist under implied consent law reasonable under Fourth Amendment)
Nieves v. Bartlett, 139 S. Ct. 1715, 204 L. Ed. 2d 1 (2019) (ScotusBlog) (probable cause to arrest defeats a First Amendment retaliation claim except where there otherwise would not have been an arrest)

2017–18 Term:
District of Columbia v. Wesby, 138 S. Ct. 577, 199 L. Ed. 2d 453 (2018) (there was probable cause to arrest under the Fourth Amendment; qualified immunity if there wasn’t under D.C. statute) (ScotusBlog)
Carpenter v. United States, 138 S. Ct. 2206, 201 L. Ed. 2d 507 (2018) (Warrant requirement for historical cell site location information) (ScotusBlog)
Collins v. Virginia, 138 S. Ct. 1663, 201 L. Ed. 2d 9 (2018) (The Fourth Amendment’s automobile exception does not permit a police officer, uninvited and without a warrant, to enter private property, approach a house and search a vehicle parked a few feet from the house.) (ScotusBlog)
Byrd v. United States, 138 S. Ct. 1518, 200 L. Ed. 2d 805 (2018) (a driver may have a reasonable expectation of privacy in a rental car when he has the renter’s permission to drive the car but is not listed as an authorized driver on the rental agreement.) (ScotusBlog)
United States v. Microsoft Corp., 17–2 (granted Oct. 16, 2017; argued Feb. 27, 2018) (Whether a United States provider of email services must comply with a probable-cause-based warrant issued under 18 U.S.C. § 2703 by making disclosure in the United States of electronic communications within that provider’s control, even if the provider has decided to store that material abroad.) dismissed as moot April 17, 2018. (ScotusBlog)
Lozman v. City of Riviera Beach, Florida, 138 S. Ct. 1945, 201 L. Ed. 2d 342 (2018) (The existence of probable cause does not always defeat a First Amendment retaliatory-arrest claim as a matter of law, but it’s really fact dependent.) (ScotusBlog)
Kisela v. Hughes, 138 S. Ct. 1148, 200 L. Ed. 2d 449 (2018) (per curiam) (Officer who used deadly force against a woman armed with a knife who wouldn’t drop it entitled to qualified immunity)
Sause v. Bauer, 138 S. Ct. 2561, 201 L. Ed. 2d 982 (2018) (per curiam) (despite waiver of Fourth Amendment claim below, it was inextricably tied to plaintiff’s First Amendment claim, and it’s revived; qualified immunity not property granted at this stage)

2016–17 Term:
Hernández v. Mesa, 582 U.S. 548, 137 S. Ct. 2003, 198 L. Ed. 2d 625 (2017) (per curiam) (remanded in light of Ziglar v. Abbasi to determine whether Bivens applies) (ScotusBlog)
Manuel v. City of Joliet, 580 U.S. 357, 137 S. Ct. 911, 197 L. Ed. 2d 312 (2017) (an individual’s Fourth Amendment right to be free from unreasonable seizure continues beyond legal process so as to allow a Fourth Amendment challenge to pretrial detention) (ScotusBlog)
County of Los Angeles v. Mendez, 581 U.S. 420, 137 S. Ct. 1539, 198 L. Ed. 2d 52 (2017) (There is no Fourth Amendment basis for the Ninth Circuit’s provocation rule for excessive force cases.) (ScotusBlog)
White v. Pauly,  580 U.S. 73, 137 S. Ct. 548, 196 L. Ed. 2d 463 (2017) (per curiam) (ScotusBlog)

2015–16 Term
Utah v. Strieff, 579 U.S. 232, 136 S.Ct. 2056, 195 L. Ed. 2d 400 (2016) (ScotusBlog)
Birchfield v. North Dakota, 579 U.S. 438, 136 S.Ct. 2160, 195 L. Ed. 2d 560 (2016) (ScotusBlog)
Mullenix v. Luna, 577 U.S. 7, 136 S. Ct. 305, 193 L. Ed. 2d 255 (2015) (per curiam) (ScotusBlog)

2014–15 Term:
City and San Francisco v. Sheehan, 575 U.S. 600, 135 S. Ct. 1765, 192 L. Ed. 2d 856 (2015) (ScotusBlog)
Grady v. North Carolina, 575 U.S. 306, 135 S. Ct. 1368, 191 L. Ed. 2d 459 (2015) (per curiam)
Heien v. North Carolina, 575 U.S. 348, 135 S. Ct. 530, 190 L. Ed. 2d 475 (2014) (ScotusBlog)
Rodriguez v. United States, 575 U.S. 348, 135 S. Ct. 1609, 191 L. Ed. 2d 492 (2015) (ScotusBlog)
City of Los Angeles v. Patel, 576 U.S. 409, 135 S.Ct. 2443, 192 L. Ed. 2d 435 (2015) (ScotusBlog)
Carroll v. Garman, 574 U.S. 13, 135 S.Ct. 348, 190 L. Ed. 2d 311 (2014) (per curiam)

2013–14 Term:
Riley v. California, 573 U.S. 373, 134 S.Ct. 2473, 189 L. Ed. 2d 430 (2014) (ScotusBlog Riley & Wurie)
Plumhoff v. Rickard, 572 U.S. 765, 134 S.Ct. 2012, 188 L. Ed. 2d 1056 (2014) (ScotusBlog)
Stanton v. Sims, 571 U.S. 3, 134 S.Ct. 3, 187 L. Ed. 2d 341 (2013) (per curiam)
Navarette v. California, 572 U.S. 393, 134 S. Ct. 1683, 188 L. Ed. 2d 680 (2014) (ScotusBlog)
Fernandez v. California, 571 U.S. 292, 134 S.Ct. 1126, 188 L. Ed. 2d 25 (2014) (ScotusBlog)

2012–13 Term:
Maryland v. King, 563 U.S. 452, 133 S.Ct. 1958, 186 L.Ed.2d 1 (2013) (ScotusBlog)
Missouri v. McNeely, 133 S.Ct. 1552, 185 L.Ed.2d 696 (2013) (ScotusBlog)
Bailey v. United States, 568 U.S. 186, 133 S.Ct. 1031, 185 L.Ed.2d 19 (2013) (ScotusBlog)
Florida v. Harris, 568 U.S. 237, 133 S.Ct. 1050, 185 L.Ed.2d 61 (2013) (ScotusBlog)
Florida v. Jardines, 569 U.S. 1, 133 S.Ct. 1409, 185 L.Ed.2d 495 (2013) (ScotusBlog)
Clapper v. Amnesty International USA, 568 U.S. 398, 133 S.Ct. 1138, 185 L.Ed.2d 264 (2013) (ScotusBlog)

2011–12 Term:
Ryburn v. Huff, 565 U.S. 469, 132 S.Ct. 987, 181 L.Ed.2d 966 (2012) (other blog)
Florence v. Board of Chosen Freeholders,566 U.S. 318, 132 S.Ct. 1510, 182 L.Ed.2d 566 (2012) (ScotusBlog)
United States v. Jones, 565 U.S. 400, 132 S.Ct. 945, 181 L.Ed.2d 911 (2012) (ScotusBlog)
Messerschmidt v. Millender, 565 U.S. 535, 132 S.Ct. 1235, 182 L.Ed.2d 47 (2012) (ScotusBlog)

2010-11 Term:
Kentucky v. King, 563 U.S. 452, 131 S.Ct. 1849, 179 L.Ed.2d 865 (2011) (ScotusBlog)
Camreta v. Greene, 563 U.S. 692, 131 S.Ct. 2020, 179 L.Ed.2d 1118 (2011) (ScotusBlog)
Ashcroft v. al-Kidd, 563 U.S. 731, 131 S.Ct. 2074, 179 L.Ed.2d 1149 (2011) (ScotusBlog)
Davis v. United States, 564 U.S. 229, 131 S.Ct. 2419, 180 L.Ed.2d 285 (2011) (ScotusBlog)

2009–10 Term:
Michiganv v. Fisher, 558 U.S. 45, 130 S.Ct. 546, 175 L.Ed.2d 410 (2009) (per curiam) (ScotusBlog)
City of Ontario v. Quon, 560 U.S. 746, 130 S.Ct. 2619, 177 L.Ed.2d 216 (2010) (ScotusBlog)

2008–09 Term:
Herring v. United States, 555 U.S. 135, 129 S.Ct. 695, 172 L.Ed.2d 496 (2009) (ScotusBlog)
Pearson v. Callahan, 555 U.S. 223, 129 S.Ct. 808, 172 L.Ed.2d 565 (2009) (ScotusBlog)
Arizona v. Johnson, 555 U.S. 323, 129 S.Ct. 781, 172 L.Ed.2d 694 (2009) (ScotusBlog)
Arizona v. Gant, 556 U.S. 332, 129 S.Ct. 1710, 173 L.Ed.2d 485 (2009) (ScotusBlog)
Safford Unified School District #1 v. Redding, 557 U.S. 364, 129 S.Ct. 2633, 174 L.Ed.2d 354 (2009) (ScotusBlog)

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