Barnes v. Felix

Welcome to Supreme Court Opinions. In this episode, you’ll hear the Court’s opinion in Barnes v Felix.    In this case, the court considered this issue: Should courts apply the “moment of the threat” doctrine when evaluating an excessive force claim under the Fourth Amendment?The case was decided on May 15, 2025. In Barnes v Felix, the Supreme Court rejected the “moment-of-threat” doctrine when evaluating excessive force claims under the Fourth Amendment. The Court held that this doctrine, which limits analysis to the precise moment an officer perceives a threat, improperly narrows the required inquiry. Instead, courts must consider the “totality of the circumstances,” including relevant events and context leading up to the use of force, to assess whether an officer’s actions were objectively reasonable. The Court emphasized that excluding prior events conflicts with the fact-dependent, context-sensitive approach mandated by the Fourth Amendment.The opinion is presented here in its entirety, but with citations omitted. If you appreciate this episode, please subscribe. Thank you.