The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit recently rendered a ruling in United States v. Ray, a case that stemmed from an investigation looking into Joshua Ray, a member of the United States Navy. The Court considered the boundaries of military searches and the limits of the good faith exception when law enforcement exceeds the scope of a valid command authorization
The United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit recently released a decision in United States v. Morgan, a case that considers whether the Fourth or Fifth Amendment required excluding the contents of the defendant’s cellphone, which he denied owning after it was seized incident to his arrest for drug-trafficking crimes. Factual Background The defendant, Steven Morgan, along with his brother, operated a
The United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit recently rendered an opinion in United States v. Puckett, a case that analyzes Fourth Amendment protections in the context of prolonged traffic stops and the search of car, which included seeing applications on an unlocked phone screen. The Court’s opinion highlights how courts assess consent searches, application of the plain view doctrine, and considered,
In a recent case decided by the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit recently rendered a decision in United States v. Barry, a case that examines the application of Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches and seizures in the context of probation conditions allowing warrantless searches when residence is established.1 The decision highlights how courts assess whether probable cause had been sufficiently
Barry’s Boundaries: When Probable Cause Meets Probation Search Conditions Continue Reading
The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued a decision in United States v. Holcomb, 23-469 (9th Cir. 2025), where the Court considered “whether an individual can be prosecuted for despicable criminal conduct based on evidence obtained in violation of the United States Constitution. Ultimately, the Circuit wrote, “In the circumstances of this case, respect for the Constitution and the rule
Bytes and Bounds: Holcomb’s Warning Against Unfettered Electronic Searches Continue Reading
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals recently issued a decision in United States v. In, 124 F.4th 790 (9th Cir. 2024), after the defendant, Larry In, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm following a traffic stop conducted by officers of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. This case offers essential guidance for law enforcement officers, considering the proper scope of
The United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit recently addressed the State Created Danger Doctrine in Cohen v. City of Portland. This case arose after Eric Cohen, experiencing a psychotic episode, attacked his girlfriend and fled into the cold waters of Portland’s Back Cove, where he eventually drowned from hypothermia. Factual Background On April 12, 2020, the Portland Maine Police Department received an
The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued a decision in Johnson v. Myers, 129 F.4th 1189 (9th Cir. 2025), where the Court considered whether a suspect posed an immediate threat to officers for purposes of determining whether the officers’ use of deadly force was justified. The case reached the Court after Ryan Smith was shot and killed by two Seattle police
The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit recently addressed the intersection of modern surveillance technology and the Fourth Amendment in United States v. Harry, 130 F.4th 342 (2d Cir. 2025). As part of an ongoing investigation into suspected drug trafficking activities, DEA agents employed a stationary pole camera to continuously monitor the exterior of Action Audio Store for approximately 50 days without
On May 15, 2025, the Supreme Court of the United States released its long-anticipated opinion in Barnes v. Felix, S.Ct.., 2025 WL 1401083. The unanimous 9-0 decision clarified and reiterated several critical principles for assessing use of deadly force cases. A police officer’s use of deadly force violates the Fourth Amendment when it is not “objectively reasonable.”[1] The inquiry into reasonableness requires assessing the