Supreme Court Revives Houston Police Excessive Force Lawsuit

The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that courts must assess police use of force claims by considering the totality of the circumstances leading up to the use of force, rather than focusing solely on the moment an officer feels threatened. This ruling revived the excessive force lawsuit brought by the mother of Ashtian Barnes, a Black man fatally shot during a 2016 traffic stop in Houston by Officer Roberto Felix Jr. Barnes was stopped for unpaid tolls while driving a rental car and was shot after his vehicle began to move with the door open and Felix on the door sill. The court rejected the 'moment of the threat' doctrine used by lower courts, which had limited review to the split seconds before the shooting, potentially making it easier for plaintiffs to challenge claims of excessive force. While the case can now proceed, qualified immunity may still protect the officer if it was not clearly established that his actions were unlawful at the time. The decision emphasizes that earlier facts and circumstances are relevant in evaluating an officer's reasonableness in using deadly force.