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U.S. Supreme Court rejects case over 'qualified immunity' for police
Reuters ^ | March 8, 2021 | By Andrew Chung

Posted on 03/08/2021 8:18:37 AM PST by Oldeconomybuyer

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday sidestepped a chance to review the scope of a legal defense called qualified immunity that increasingly has been used to shield police accused of excessive force, turning away an appeal by a Cleveland man who sued after being roughed up by police while trying to enter his own home.

The justices declined to hear the appeal by Shase Howse, who said he was slammed to the ground outside the house where he lived with his mother in a poor and mostly Black neighborhood, struck in the back of the neck and jailed after police deemed his actions suspicious. Howse, who was 20 at the time, is Black. The police involved in the 2016 incident are white.

Qualified immunity protects police officers and other types of government officials from civil litigation in certain circumstances, allowing lawsuits only when an individual’s “clearly established” statutory or constitutional rights have been violated.

The U.S. House of Representatives last Wednesday passed policing reform legislation that among other provisions would eliminate the qualified immunity defense for law enforcement. The legislation, supported by most Democrats and opposed by Republicans, faces an uphill battle in the Senate.

Howse sued two police officers, Brian Middaugh and Thomas Hodous, accusing them of excessive force in violation of the U.S. Constitution’s Fourth Amendment prohibition on unreasonable searches and seizures. The officers said they used only the force necessary to subdue Howse.

(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: immunity; police; qualified; scotus
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1 posted on 03/08/2021 8:18:37 AM PST by Oldeconomybuyer
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Who cares what the SCOTUS does now? They’re opinions are meaningless.


2 posted on 03/08/2021 8:21:20 AM PST by albie
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Ebony and Ivory
Living in perfect Harmony


3 posted on 03/08/2021 8:22:51 AM PST by Kickass Conservative (Don't blame me, I Voted for the guy who actually Won the 2020 Presidential Election...)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

'Black'

Knock it off.

4 posted on 03/08/2021 8:27:48 AM PST by bassmaner (Hey commies: I'm a white male, and guilty of NOTHING! Sell your 'white guilt' elsewhere!)
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To: albie

Who cares what the SCOTUS does now? They’re opinions are meaningless.

________________________________________________________

While I’ll agree their opinions are garbage, the global corporatists will use their consent to abuse the public and cement their control even further.


5 posted on 03/08/2021 8:35:18 AM PST by Bishop_Malachi (Liberal Socialism - A philosophy which advocates spreading a low standard of living equally.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

“Howse, who was Black at the time, is 20 years old”

Why am I not surprised. Looks like no payday for him.


6 posted on 03/08/2021 8:37:36 AM PST by BobL (TheDonald.win is now Patriots.win)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

the Ruling:

Black Lives don’t matter


7 posted on 03/08/2021 8:39:48 AM PST by bert ( (KE. NP. N.C. +12) History: Pelosi was pitiful vindictive California crone)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

SCOTUS, what a joke. In fact, the whole of DC is one big sick joke. The American people really need to do whatever it takes to reclaim their country!


8 posted on 03/08/2021 8:43:55 AM PST by drypowder
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Courts protecting the thugs that protect them.

The QI doctrine was wholly created by the courts, not by legislatures or congress. It protects all petty autocrats and bullies in all levels of government and enshrines the Nuremburg Defense. “Hey, I was just following orders, doing my job, etc”.

Citizens need to make it their priority to gut this bastard doctrine and make government workers or their unions carry litigation and liability insurance on their own dime.


9 posted on 03/08/2021 8:45:10 AM PST by Valpal1
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To: albie
hey’re opinions are meaningless.

They have opinions? Could have fooled me. I thought they just cut and run.

10 posted on 03/08/2021 8:46:41 AM PST by AndyJackson
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To: albie; Bishop_Malachi

“Who cares what the SCOTUS does now? They’re opinions are meaningless.”

Psst, come closer. They voted for our side.


11 posted on 03/08/2021 8:47:09 AM PST by aquila48 (Do not let them make you care! Guilting you is how they control you. )
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

I support the elimination of Qualified Immunity for ALL government officials and Police.

Total elimination.


12 posted on 03/08/2021 8:47:24 AM PST by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday sidestepped

Yeah, that's pretty much the only kind of step the John Roberts Supreme Court will ever take. The most cowardly SC in my lifetime, led by the biggest coward in Washington - Roberts.
13 posted on 03/08/2021 8:48:02 AM PST by AnotherUnixGeek
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To: aquila48

“Psst, come closer. They voted for our side.”

...psst. That’ll be 1 and 228


14 posted on 03/08/2021 8:49:08 AM PST by albie
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To: aquila48
Psst, come closer. They voted for our side.

Qualified immunity for government officials, including cops, isn't my side.
15 posted on 03/08/2021 8:49:08 AM PST by AnotherUnixGeek
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To: albie

If you were attentive and actually read and understood the article you would know that there was no opinion put forward by SCOTUS


16 posted on 03/08/2021 8:49:37 AM PST by bert ( (KE. NP. N.C. +12) History: Pelosi was pitiful vindictive California crone)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
...police deemed his actions suspicious..

Possibly there is more to this case that what was described but the excuse of "actions seemed suspicious" could be used as justification to abuse any citizen.

How wasn't Mr. Howse's 4th amendment rights not violated in this case?

Being a policman doesn't guve you the right to supercede the citizen's rights under the constitution. There are good cops out there but there are also individuals who think they can do anything and get away with it. We also know that cops general cover for their own.

If Howse was wrongfully abused, he should sue the abusive policemen, the police-force and municipality in civil court since I assume the AG will not treat this as a criminal offense.

If I was abused as Mr. Howse was, I'd want some justice!

17 posted on 03/08/2021 8:51:30 AM PST by JesusIsLord
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

SCOTUS is very, very corrupt and useless. They are right down there with the IRS, DOJ, FBI, ATF, DOS, IRS CONGRESS, FEDERAL COURTS, DHS......HOPE I didn’t leave any of the crooks out.


18 posted on 03/08/2021 9:06:06 AM PST by stockpirate (Where Justice Ends Tyranny Begins...Repression Breeds Violence. REBELLION AGAINST TYRANNY )
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To: BobL

“Howse, who was Black at the time, is 20 years old”

So he is no longer Black? Well makes sense that wouldn’t hear the case.


19 posted on 03/08/2021 9:07:26 AM PST by stockpirate (Where Justice Ends Tyranny Begins...Repression Breeds Violence. REBELLION AGAINST TYRANNY )
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

And this is why I believe in the Swatting of Judicial Officers as often as possible.


20 posted on 03/08/2021 9:22:29 AM PST by eyeamok (founded in cynicism, wrapped in sarcasm)
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