The Supreme Court recently granted Janice Hughes, the mother of Ashtian Barnes, a chance to pursue an excessive force claim against Officer Roberto Felix Jr. after her son was killed during a traffic stop in Houston in April 2016. Barnes, who was 24, was shot twice by Felix when his car began to move while he was talking to the officer. This ruling allows Hughes’ civil rights lawsuit to proceed, focusing on potential violations of the Fourth Amendment concerning excessive force.
Justice Elena Kagan, writing for a unanimous court, criticized a lower court’s approach that concentrated solely on the moment deadly force was employed. Instead, the Supreme Court emphasized the importance of considering all events leading up to the moment of force. This ruling effectively rejects the “moment of the threat doctrine,” which had previously limited courts’ evaluations of police conduct to a narrow time frame.
While the court’s decision removes a significant barrier for Hughes’ case, challenges remain. Although she is moving forward, Felix could still invoke qualified immunity, a legal protection for officers if it was not clearly established that their actions were unlawful at the time. Hughes has expressed her motivation for pursuing the case, asserting the need for accountability in policing, especially five years after George Floyd’s death.
Lower courts had previously ruled against Hughes, with judges agreeing that the doctrine in question was flawed. Hughes has also filed a separate claim against the police department, although that matter is not currently before the Supreme Court. The ruling reinforces the need for courts to consider the totality of circumstances in cases involving police use of force.
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