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Supreme Court Unanimously Expands Scope for Excessive Force Claims Against Police
“To assess whether an officer acted reasonably in using force, a court must consider all … facts and events leading up to the climactic moment,” the majority opinion stated
May 16, 2025 11:43 AM •
Joanna Putman
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that courts must consider the full context of police encounters, not just the moments officers fear for their safety, when evaluating claims of excessive force, expanding the legal framework for such cases, The Hill reported.
The unanimous 9-0 decision stems from the 2016 fatal shooting of 24-year-old Ashtian Barnes during a traffic stop in Texas. Barnes was driving a rental car linked to unpaid tolls when he was pulled over by Officer Roberto Felix Jr. After Barnes began moving the vehicle forward, Felix jumped onto the car’s doorsill and shot Barnes twice, killing him.
Lower courts had ruled that Felix was protected under the “moment of the threat” doctrine, which focuses only on the instant an officer uses force. But the Supreme Court rejected that approach, instead directing courts to examine the “totality of the circumstances.”
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Supreme Court unanimously expands scope for excessive force claims against police
“To assess whether an officer acted reasonably in using force, a court must consider all … facts and events leading up to the climactic moment,” the majority opinion stated
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Official SCOTUS Opinion (Barnes v Felix)