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Pittman v. Harris

Petition for certiorari denied on March 9, 2020
Docket No. Op. Below Argument Opinion Vote Author Term
19-466 4th Cir. N/A N/A N/A N/A OT 2019

Issues: (1) Whether in Scott v. Harris the Supreme Court announced an “exception” to the summary-judgment standard in cases commenced under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, and if not, whether the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit erred when it deviated from other circuit holdings and announced that Scott directs the lower courts to examine whether a self-serving narrative is contradicted by individual pieces of the record, as opposed to the entire record, to discern if a genuine dispute of material fact exists; and (2) whether the respondent, Herman Harris, “clearly established” his right to be free from excess force when Harris assaulted the petitioner, Zachery Pittman, in a wooded area, attempted to murder Pittman with his service weapon and presented a lethal threat until Pittman fired in rapid succession.

SCOTUSblog Coverage

DateProceedings and Orders (key to color coding)
Oct 07 2019Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due November 8, 2019)
Nov 08 2019Waiver of right of respondent Herman Harris to respond filed.
Nov 20 2019DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 12/6/2019.
Dec 03 2019Response Requested. (Due January 2, 2020)
Dec 06 2019Motion to extend the time to file a response from January 2, 2020 to February 3, 2020, submitted to The Clerk.
Dec 09 2019Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including February 3, 2020.
Feb 03 2020Brief of respondent Herman Harris in opposition filed.
Feb 07 2020Reply of petitioner Zachery Pittman filed.
Feb 12 2020DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 2/28/2020.
Mar 02 2020DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 3/6/2020.
Mar 09 2020Petition DENIED. Justice Alito would grant the petition for a writ of certiorari.