On April 30, 2021, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals decided the United States v. Harris[i], which is instructive regarding the validity of court orders, in lieu of search warrants, to track cell phone location.  The relevant facts of Harris, [...]

On March 10, 2021, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals decided Favors v. City of Atlanta[i], in which the court discussed municipal liability pertaining to officer’s use of force against occupants of a fleeing vehicle.  The relevant facts of Favors, [...]

On April 27, 2021, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals decided the United States v. Forget[i], which serves as an excellent review of the law related to the lawful scope of a traffic stop and inventory searches. The relevant facts [...]

On April 29, 2021, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals decided Hinson v. Martin[i], which serves as an excellent review of the law related to excessive force, the use of a police canine (K9) and the boundaries on use of [...]

On March 17, 2021, the Court of Appeals of Georgia decided Terry v. State[i], in which the court examined whether officers exceeded the scope of a traffic stop by having a K9 conduct a free air sniff of the vehicle.  [...]

On March 10, 2021, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals decided Helm v. Rainbow City[i], in which the court examined whether officers violated the Fourth Amendment when a teenage girl who was having a grand mal seizure at a concert [...]

On March 17, 2021, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals decided the United States v. Roberts[i], in which the court examined whether the odor of marijuana can provide police with reasonable suspicion to detain a group of five men when [...]

On March 18, 2021, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals decided Ellsworth v. City of Broken Arrow[i], in which the court examined whether officers violated the plaintiff’s rights under the Fourth Amendment when, believing the plaintiffs to be armed robbery [...]

On March 23, 2021, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals decided Thorkelson v. Marceno[i], which involved a woman, in an emotional crisis, that was shot and killed by police when she pointed, what they later learned was a BB gun, [...]

On February 22, 2021, the Court of Appeals of Georgia decided the Lewis v. State[i], which examines whether an officer can enter the curtilage of a residence and seize evidence that is in plain view without a search warrant.  The [...]