WASHINGTON — On Wednesday, the Supreme Court appeared to support the possibility of reinstating a civil rights lawsuit against a Texas police officer involved in the fatal shooting of a man during a traffic stop related to unpaid tolls in Houston.
The justices indicated a shared opinion that the case concerning Ashtian Barnes, who lost his life in April 2016 while seated in his rental car on the Sam Houston Tollway, might require further examination by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals based in New Orleans.
During the stop, Officer Roberto Felix Jr. shot Barnes as he attempted to leave the scene. Felix claimed he acted out of fear for his safety when he opened fire within two seconds after jumping onto the driver’s side of Barnes’ vehicle, as stated by his legal representatives in documents filed with the Supreme Court.
Earlier courts had dismissed the excessive force lawsuit brought forth by Barnes’ mother, Janice Hughes. The crux of the matter for the justices was whether the lower courts employed the appropriate standard by focusing solely on the “moment of the threat” that prompted Felix to shoot.
Hughes’ legal team, along with representatives from the Justice Department, argued that courts should consider the “totality of the circumstances” surrounding the incident when evaluating the case against Felix.
According to Nathaniel Zelinsky, Hughes’ attorney, recognizing all relevant circumstances would demonstrate that Felix’s actions—specifically his decision to leap onto the side of Barnes’ car—were unreasonable.
Justice Neil Gorsuch suggested that the court might issue a narrow ruling stating that the “two-second rule” cannot be deemed as the standard for evaluating such cases.
While the Supreme Court’s ruling could clarify the legal standards applied across the nation, it may not ultimately favor Hughes. Even if it is concluded that Felix infringed upon Barnes’ rights, he could still potentially evade financial repercussions due to qualified immunity, a legal principle that protects government officials from liability under certain conditions.
Justice Brett Kavanaugh raised concerns that a favorable decision for Hughes could inadvertently place police officers in more precarious situations during traffic stops, where they need to make rapid decisions. “The officer does not get the time we spent here today making the decision,” Kavanaugh noted.
At the time of the incident, Barnes was en route to pick up his girlfriend’s daughter from daycare when Officer Felix stopped him, having received information about unpaid toll violations connected to the car’s license plate. Barnes was unaware of the issues since the vehicle was rented by his girlfriend.
In support of the officer, Judge Patrick Higginbotham from the 5th Circuit expressed sorrow that yet another “routine traffic stop has again ended in the death of an unarmed Black man.”
A ruling from the Supreme Court is anticipated by early summer.
