The U.S. Supreme Court is considering a case that could change how courts evaluate police use of force, particularly in instances involving fatal encounters. The case involves a Texas woman, Janice Hughes, whose 24-year-old son, Ashtian Barnes, was killed by a Houston police officer in 2016 during a traffic stop.
The legal battle centers on whether the courts improperly dismissed Hughes’ lawsuit, which accused Officer Roberto Felix Jr. of violating the Fourth Amendment by using deadly force on Barnes. The case could set a new precedent for how the “moment of threat” doctrine is applied, which currently allows courts to focus solely on the immediate danger to officers during an incident, often overlooking earlier actions that led to the confrontation.
Hughes’ lawyer, Nathaniel Zelinsky, argued that a broader perspective—considering the totality of circumstances—should be applied. Justices, including Neil Gorsuch, appeared open to this view, with Gorsuch noting that “reasonableness is a totality of the circumstances” and should reflect the complexities of police encounters across the country.
The incident occurred on April 28, 2016, when Felix, a traffic enforcement officer with the Harris County Constable’s Office, stopped Barnes for outstanding toll violations. The officer claimed to have smelled marijuana, although no drugs were found. Barnes, searching for his documents, allegedly told Felix the items might be in the trunk. When Barnes drove off, Felix attempted to stop him by jumping onto the moving vehicle. Felix then fired two shots, killing Barnes.
Though local investigations found no fault in Felix’s actions, Hughes argues that the officer acted recklessly by pulling his gun and firing without provocation. The case’s outcome could potentially reshape how courts view officer conduct and the legal protections available to law enforcement, including the controversial qualified immunity doctrine.
As the Court hears arguments, conservative justices like Brett Kavanaugh expressed concern that holding officers liable in such cases might lead to risk-averse policing, where officers avoid taking necessary actions to stop fleeing suspects. A decision is expected by June.
