In Groh v. Ramirez the U.S. Supreme Court will consider qualified immunity for executing a facially invalid warrant. An agent of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives obtained a search warrant for a residence based on information that there were grenades, a grenade launcher, a rocket launcher, and an automatic rifle on a ranch. The application identified both the place to be searched and the items to be seized. However, the agent mistakenly left off the warrant the items to be seized and instead retyped the description of the premises. He executed the warrant with a team of other agents and the local sheriff. He provided the warrant to the homeowner after the search was completed, instead of at the beginning. He did not provide a copy of the application or affidavit. No items were discovered and nothing was seized. The homeowners sued under Bivens, and the agent claimed qualified immunity.
Chief’s Counsel: Supreme Court Preview: Law Enforcement Cases to Be Decided in the October 2003 Term
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The past year, 2024, has seen the U.S. Supreme Court issue several decisions of importance to police leaders—not just as police officers but as employers and government employees. And there is more ...
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A review of federal court decisions during 2023 confirms that the same principles enunciated in the leading case on the subject, Byrd v. Brishke, which was decided over 50 years ago, are still in pla...
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The 2024 U.S. General Election will be held on November 5 across all 50 U.S. states. It is impossible to drive down a street, enter a shop, or go for a neighborhood walk without seeing campaign sign...
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Molotov cocktails exploding, bricks smashing into windshields, and the storming of barricades—these chaotic scenes highlight the challenges faced by police personnel during public order events.
W...
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The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC) Final Regulations interpreting the Pregnancy Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) took effect on June 18, 2024.1
In addition to actual pregnancy, ...
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The first duty of any civilized government is to protect the life and property of its people through its military and justice functions.1
Policing’s first duty then is, and must be, to protect co...
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In Jimerson v. Lewis, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit brought to the forefront the complexities involved in the decision-making processes of supervisory and command-level offi...
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The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits a covered U.S. employer (which includes police departments) from making disability-related inquiries or requiring medical examinations of job applic...
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Isaac Asimov’s Three Laws of Robotics should be built into all artificial intelligence (AI) programming.
The Three Laws provide that a robot may not harm a human being, must obey a human being, a...
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Women in law enforcement are not strong for women, or strong despite being women. They need not be as tough as a man or tougher than men. Women are strong and tough and formidable....