Supreme Court Considers Reviving Lawsuit Over Fatal Traffic Stop Shooting

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The U.S. Supreme Court indicated it may revive a civil rights lawsuit against a Texas police officer involved in the 2016 shooting death of Ashtian Barnes during a traffic stop in Houston. The justices showed support for re-examining the case, suggesting the lower courts may have wrongly evaluated the officer's actions using too narrow a lens.

Earlier, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed the lawsuit filed by Barnes' mother, Janice Hughes, claiming excessive force. The key issue is whether the evaluation should consider only the immediate threat when the officer fired or the totality of the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Officer Roberto Felix Jr. shot Barnes as he attempted to drive away after being pulled over for unpaid tolls on a rented vehicle. Felix's defense stated he acted out of a reasonable fear for his safety.

Comments from the justices suggest there may be a consensus that using a brief “two-second rule” to assess such cases is insufficient. However, concerns were raised regarding the implications of a ruling in favor of Hughes, particularly affecting police decisions during high-stress encounters.

A decision from the Supreme Court is anticipated by early summer, which could establish a more standardized approach for evaluating excessive force claims nationwide.

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