Good Faith Saves the Search: When a Close Probable Cause Call Isn't Enough to Suppress the Evidence
United States v. Bolden, No. 25-1734 (7th Cir. June 12, 2026) TL;DR The Seventh Circuit upheld a search warrant even though the court acknowledged probable cause was a "close" question. Officers saw a convicted felon carrying a handgun into a residence, obtained a warrant, and recovered guns, drugs, ammunition, and over $50,000 in cash. The defendant argued the warrant lacked probable cause and contained misleading statements. The court sidestepped the probable cause issue an
5 min read
Fleeing with a Gun: Sixth Circuit Upholds Officers’ Use of Deadly Force in Convenience Store Shooting
Ward v. Brotzke, No. 25-1653 (6th Cir. June 12, 2026) TL;DR The Sixth Circuit held that Detroit police officers were entitled to qualified immunity after shooting a suspect who ignored commands, pulled a handgun from his pocket, and ran toward the exit of a convenience store. The court found that one officer who fired and missed never "seized" the suspect under the Fourth Amendment because the suspect continued fleeing. The officer who struck the suspect acted reasonably unde
6 min read
Can the Government Take Your Guns Because You Smoke Marijuana? The Supreme Court Says No.
United States v. Hemani, 608 U.S. ___ (2026) TL;DR The Supreme Court held that the federal government's prosecution of Ali Hemani under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(3)—the statute prohibiting firearm possession by unlawful users of controlled substances—violated the Second Amendment as applied to him. The government attempted to disarm Hemani solely because he admitted using marijuana several times per week, despite no evidence that he was intoxicated while possessing a firearm, danger
6 min read