In United States v. Meyer, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals considers a case that examines the application of exigent circumstances when handling electronics. This case delves into the rules and exceptions that apply when law enforcement officers seek to enter a home and search for evidence without first obtaining a warrant. 

In a recent opinion, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals established their position on the extent to which the First Amendment protections extend to recording and livestreaming officer civilian interactions. In Sharpe v. Winterville Police Department[1], the court considered the First Amendment right for a passenger to livestream their own traffic stop. 

The Eleventh Circuit case of United States v. Sanchez involved a warrant for the seizure of a cell phone. The court cited Riley v. California, which held that a person has a reasonable expectation of privacy in the data contained in their cell phone, including the call log.

​An often-overlooked issue in the context of law enforcement is the concern over potential violations of individual’s First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and assembly. Police Departments around the Nation have faced widespread criticism and legal condemnation for their use of crowd control tactics in response to protests and large public gatherings.

The best way to combat “custom” is through the implementation of clear policies, comprehensive training on those policies, and close and effective supervision. To this end, innovations in law enforcement training have benefited and will continue to benefit departments. 

Baude v. Leyshock from the Eighth Circuit has a lot of legal issues that we have discussed and a new term that we have not, which is “kettling.” First let’s start with what we have discussed before: our case today brings to question excessive use of force during a protest. 

The recent case from the Seventh Circuit, United States v. Jones, raises important questions about Fourth Amendment rights and consent to search. The case involved an arrest warrant that led to a consensual search, ultimately revealing a hidden firearm.

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The death of Tyre Nichols on January 7, 2023, is a tragedy that resulted from being severely beaten by five officers from the Memphis Police Department. The tragedy is compounded by the fact that it was entirely preventable.

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The case of Gambrel v. Knox County, 25 F.4th 391 (6th Cir. 2022) brings to light the complex issue of qualified immunity and the use of deadly force by law enforcement. 

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