Torres v. Madrid
What's at Stake
Whether the Fourth Amendment applies to a police officer's intentional use of physical force against a fleeing person, if that use of force does not succeed in terminating her movement.
Summary
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit held that police officers shooting a fleeing person is not a "seizure" of the person -- and therefore does not implicate the Fourth Amendment in any way -- unless the officers' bullets not only hit her, but succeed in terminating her movement. The ACLU's amicus brief argues that the Tenth Circuit’s rule is inconsistent with Supreme Court jurisprudence on the definition of a "seizure" as well as basic Fourth Amendment principles. The ACLU's brief also explains how the Tenth Circuit’s rule creates a dangerous gap in accountability with significant real-world consequences.
Legal Documents
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10/03/2019
Torres v. Madrid - Amicus Brief - October 2019
Date Filed: 10/03/2019
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02/10/2020
Torres v. Madrid Amicus Brief
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02/07/2020
Torres v. Madrid - Amicus Brief
Press Releases
ACLU Urges Supreme Court to Reverse Decision Granting Law Enforcement Immunity from the Fourth Amendment