Credit: istock
In a decision handed down Monday, the Supreme Court made it even more difficult for victims of police violence to bring action against police officers who use excessive force. (emphasis added)
As the Los Angeles Times reports, the high court ruled in favor of an Arizona police officer who shot a woman outside her home because she was carrying a knife. In doing so, the Times notes, the court “effectively advises courts to rely more heavily on the officer’s view of such incidents, rather than the victims.”
Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg were the lone dissenters in the ruling, with Sotomayor delivering an impassioned opinion. Wrote Sotomayor about the court’s decision:
Its decision is not just wrong on the law; it also sends an alarming signal to law enforcement officers and the public. It tells officers that they can shoot first and think later, and it tells the public that palpably unreasonable conduct will […]
The facts of the case: the woman had a large knife, was seen hacking a tree, and was 6 feet away from her roommate. Police told her to stand down twice, but she did not comply. What would you have done?
Bob — You mistake a specific case with a Supreme Court precedent. The point of the story was the latter, you are commenting on the former. This ruling will be cited again and again by police charged with inappropriate behavior.