Legal Update Archives - DLG Learning Center

A Ping Too Far? Cell-Site Tracking and Territorial Warrants in United States v. Thorne

In United States v. Thorne, No. 23-3054 (D.C. Cir. 2026), the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit highlighted Fourth Amendment considerations that arise when officers use GPS-ping data and cell-site simulator technology to locate a wanted suspect, as well as the application of the good-faith exception when officers reasonably rely on a warrant in good faith. This case involved two different types […]

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Hawatmeh v. City of Henderson: Ninth Circuit Clarifies Standards for Use of Force in Hostage Scenarios

The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit recently released a ruling in Hawatmeh v. City of Henderson. This case stems from a volatile hostage situation that occurred in December 2020 after Jason Bourne confronted his neighbors, Dianne Hawatmeh and her daughter Yasmeen, about making a noise complaint against him. Bourne initially walked away without issue but came running after the Hawatmehs

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No Suspicion, No Strip Search: Eleventh Circuit Bars Suspicionless Searches of Prison Visitors and Rejects Qualified Immunity

The Eleventh Circuit held that prison officials generally may not conduct strip searches of civilian visitors without reasonable suspicion that the visitor is concealing contraband. The court also held that qualified immunity did not protect the officers because the constitutional violation was sufficiently clear that a reasonable officer would have understood the conduct was unlawful. Summary of the Facts In February 2017, Clarissa Gilmore

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Podcast: SCOTUS Affirms Standard for Emergency-Aid Entry into the Home in Case v. Montana

This episode of the Guardian Mindset Podcast with Attorney Eric Daigle breaks down the Supreme Court’s Case v. Montana decision and what it means for welfare checks, mental health calls, and warrantless entry into a home. Learn when officers can act without a warrant and how to apply the emergency aid exception the right way. Weekly Legal Updates with Path of the Guardian: Request

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Ninth Circuit Rejects Fifth Amendment Compulsion Theory Where Police Properly Mirandize in United States v. Watson

In a recent case, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit released a decision in United States v. Watson, a case that highlights a parolee’s rights during law enforcement investigations and considers the boundaries of compelled statements under the Fifth Amendment. Summary of the Facts In May 2022, Federal Drug Administration agents and the Nampa Police Department began investigating Tyler Jay

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Bytes and Bounds: Holcomb’s Warning Against Unfettered Electronic Searches

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

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Confession or Coercion? Constitutional Clarity in United States v. Maytubby

The United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit recently decided United States v. Maytubby, a case that evaluates whether a confession obtained during a police interview was voluntary under the Fifth Amendment, highlighting an example of how courts assess officer conduct and potential coercion during non-custodial interviews. In December 2020, Lance Maytubby was questioned at a police station following allegations of sexual

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Handcuffed on the Strip—Court Rules Visible Glock Justified Extra Restraint During Traffic Stop

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

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Six-Second Shooting Strips Seattle Officers of Immunity — Ninth Circuit in Johnson v. Myers

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

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Timing Tossed, Totality Triumphs: SCOTUS in Barnes v. Felix Clarifies Use-of-Force Analysis

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

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