The U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously Thursday that courts must consider the full context, not just the moment deadly force is used, when reviewing excessive force claims against police officers. The decision in Barnes v. Felix changes how such cases are evaluated under the Fourth Amendment.
The case stems from a 2016 Texas traffic stop in which Officer Roberto Felix shot and killed Ashtian Barnes after Barnes attempted to drive away. Lower courts applied the “moment-of-threat” standard, focusing only on the seconds when Felix used force. Justice Elena Kagan, writing for the Court, rejected that narrow approach.
“To assess whether an officer acted reasonably in using force, a court must consider all the relevant circumstances,” Kagan wrote. Justice Brett Kavanaugh, joined by three conservative justices, agreed but emphasized the danger traffic stops pose to officers.
Legal scholars, including those at the Cato Institute, applauded the ruling, saying it reinforces safeguards against unwarranted deadly force and promotes more accountable policing.
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