Skip to content

City of Los Angeles v. Contreras

Petition for certiorari denied on December 14, 2015

Docket No. Op. Below Argument Opinion Vote Author Term
15-58 9th Cir. N/A N/A N/A N/A OT 2015

Issue: (1) Whether the Fourth Amendment"s reasonableness standard requires that a suspect threaten a police officer with a weapon before the police officer can use deadly force to apprehend the suspect, or whether Tennessee v. Garner allows a police officer to use deadly force to prevent the suspect"s escape if based on the totality of the circumstances, the officer has probable cause to believe the suspect poses a threat of serious physical harm to the officer or others and where when feasible some warning has been given; (2) whether Tennessee v. Garner defeats a police officer"s entitlement to qualified immunity by providing fair and clear warning that it is unreasonable under the Fourth Amendment for a police officer to use deadly force to apprehend a fleeing suspect where the officer has probable cause to believe the suspect has just committed a crime involving the infliction or threatened infliction of serious physical harm, if after the shooting it is discovered the suspect was unarmed.

DateProceedings and Orders (key to color coding)
07/10/2015Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due August 13, 2015)
08/03/2015Waiver of right of respondent Robert Contreras to respond filed.
08/12/2015DISTRIBUTED for Conference of September 28, 2015.
08/13/2015Response Requested . (Due September 14, 2015)
09/01/2015Order extending time to file response to petition to and including October 14, 2015.
10/14/2015Brief of respondent Robert Contreras in opposition filed.
10/23/2015Reply of petitioners City of Los Angeles, California, et al. filed.
10/28/2015DISTRIBUTED for Conference of November 13, 2015.
11/12/2015Rescheduled.
11/16/2015DISTRIBUTED for Conference of November 24, 2015.
11/20/2015Rescheduled.
11/30/2015DISTRIBUTED for Conference of December 4, 2015.
12/07/2015DISTRIBUTED for Conference of December 11, 2015.
12/14/2015Petition DENIED.