Legal Document

526 U.S. 603119 S.Ct. 1692143 L.Ed.2d 818 SyllabusNOTE: Where it is feasible, a syllabus (headnote) will be released, as being done in connection with this case, at the time opinion issued. The constitutes no part of Court but has been prepared by Reporter Decisions for convenience reader. See United States v. Detroit Timber & Lumber Co., 200 321, 337. SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES WILSON et al.v.LAYNE, DEPUTY MARSHAL, al. CERTIORARI TO APPEALS FOR FOURTH CIRCUIT No. 98 83. Argued March 24, 1999Decided May 1999 While executing warrant to arrest petitioners' son their home, respondents, deputy federal marshals and local sheriff's deputies, invited newspaper reporter photographer accompany them. made mention such media "ride-along." officers' early morning entry into home prompted confrontation petitioners, protective sweep revealed that was not house. reporters observed photographed incident were involved execution warrant. Their never published photographs they took incident. Petitioners sued officers personal capacities money damages under Bivens Six Unknown Fed. Narcotics Agents, 403 388 (the marshals) 42 U.S.C. § 1983 deputies), contending actions bringing observe record attempted violated Fourth Amendment rights. District denied respondents' motion summary judgment on basis qualified immunity. In reversing, Appeals declined decide whether Amendment, concluded because court had held search presence during police residence constituted violation, right allegedly "clearly established" thus respondents entitled Held: A "ride-along" violates state law clearly established case place, respondent are Pp. 4 10. (a) immunity analysis identical suits §1983 Bivens. See, e.g., Graham Connor, 490 386, 394, n. 9. evaluating claim must first determine plaintiff alleged deprivation constitutional right, and, if so, proceed violation. Conn Gabbert, ___, ___. 5. (b) It rights homeowners bring members or other third parties when aid warrant's execution. embodies centuries-old principles respect privacy which apply where, here, enter authority an order take custody suspect named warrant, Payton New York, 445 573, 602 604. does necessarily follow from fact requires related objectives authorized intrusion. Arizona Hicks, 480 325. Certainly reporters, who did engage assist task, objective intrusion, apprehension son. Taken entirety, reasons advanced support reporters' publicizing government's efforts combat crime, facilitating accurate reporting enforcement activities, minimizing abuses, protecting suspects fall short justifying ride-alongs. Although may some circumstances constitutionally permissible, these not. 5 (c) Petitioners' search. "Clearly purposes means contours sufficiently clear reasonable official would understand what he doing right. His very action need previously have unlawful, light pre-existing its unlawfulness apparent. E.g., Anderson Creighton, 483 635, 640. unreasonable officer issue believed observers along (even home) lawful. First, question presented open shut. Accurate coverage activities serves important public purpose, obvious Amendment's general conduct Amendment. Second, petitioners cited any cases controlling jurisdiction rule seek rely, nor identified consensus persuasive could his Finally, relied Marshal's Service ride-along policy explicitly contemplated private homes, deputies program expressly prohibit entries. best undeveloped relevant time, cannot expected predict future course law. Procunier Navarette, 434 555, 561. 10 14. 141 F.3d 111, affirmed. Rehnquist, C. J., delivered unanimous Parts I II, Part III, O'Connor, Scalia, Kennedy, Souter, Thomas, Ginsburg, Breyer, JJ., joined. Stevens, filed concurring dissenting part. Opinion 1 NOTICE: This subject formal revision before publication preliminary print Reports. Readers requested notify Decisions, Supreme States, Washington, D. 20543, typographical errors, corrections goes press. 83 2 CHARLES H. WILSON, ux., al., PETITIONERSv.HARRY LAYNE, etc., 3 ON WRIT [May 1999] Chief Justice Rehnquist Court. 6 representatives We hold "media ride along" violate defense 7 * 1992, Attorney General approved "Operation Gunsmoke," special national fugitive Marshals worked apprehend dangerous criminals. Gunsmoke" statement explained operation concentrate "armed individuals wanted and/or warrants serious drug violent felonies." App. 15. effective ultimately resulted over 3,000 arrests 40 metropolitan areas. Brief Federal Respondents Layne 2. 8 One fugitives target Dominic Wilson, Charles Geraldine Wilson. Wilson probation previous felony charges robbery, theft, assault intent rob, computer listed "caution indicators" likely armed, resist arrest, "assaul[t] police." 40. also address 909 North StoneStreet Avenue Rockville, Maryland. police, actually Wilson's parents. Thus, April Circuit Montgomery County issued three one each violations. addressed "any duly peace officer," commanded him "immediately" answer indictment assistance.1 9 hours 16, Gunsmoke team Deputy Police assembled execute warrants. accompanied Washington Post, them mission policy. At around 6:45 a.m., officers, tow, entered dwelling Lincoln Park neighborhood Rockville. still bed heard home. Petitioner dressed only pair briefs, ran living room investigate. Discovering least five men street clothes guns room, angrily demanded business, repeatedly cursed officers. Believing angry quickly subdued floor. next investigate, wearing nightgown. She her husband restrained armed 11 When completed, learned house, departed. During Post numerous pictures. apparently observing between however, war- rant. 4. 12 officials (1971) respondents) Rev. Stat. §1979, Sheriff's Department respondents). They contended 13 On interlocutory appeal Appeals, divided panel reversed twice reheard en banc, where again upheld instead (at search) proper. 111 (CA4 1998). Five judges dissented, arguing protections case. Id., 119 (opinion Murnaghan, J.) 14 Recognizing split among Circuits issue, we granted certiorari another raising same question, Hanlon Berger, 525 ___ (1998), now affirm although different reasoning. II 15 §1983. Both allow government §1983; Bivens, supra, 397. But performing discretionary functions generally "shielded liability civil insofar statutory person known." Harlow Fitzgerald, 457 800, (1982). 16 involves both either cause action. (1989); Malley Briggs, 475 335, 340, (1986). "must actual all, violation." (1999) (slip op., 4). procedure designed "spare defendant unwarranted liability, demands customarily imposed upon those defending long drawn-out lawsuit." Siegert Gilley, 500 226, 232 (1991). Deciding addressing promotes clarity legal standards conduct, benefit public. Sacramento Lewis, 523 833, 840 842, (1998). turn question. 17 1604, English now-famous observation "the house every castle fortress, well defence against injury violence, repose." Semayne's Case, 77 Eng. Rep. 194, Co. 91a, 91b, 195 (K. B.). Commentaries Laws England, William Blackstone noted 18 England so particular tender regard man's stiles castle, suffer impunity: agreeing herein sentiments antient Rome. For reason doors can broken process; though, criminal causes, safety supersedes private." Blackstone, 223 (1765 1769). 19 principle home: "The people secure persons, houses, papers, effects, searches seizures, shall violated, Warrants probable cause, supported Oath affirmation, particularly describing place searched, persons things seized." Const. Amd. IV (Emphasis added.) 407 297, 313 (1972) ("[P]hysical chief evil wording directed"). 20 Our decisions applied basic situations, like (1980), protection common-law tradition drafting ambivalent without persuaded "overriding sanctity embedded our traditions since origins Republic" meant absent exigent circumstances, make arrest. 603 decided "an founded implicitly carries limited lives there believe within." Ibid. 21 Here, course, undoubtedly Horton California, 496 128, 140 (1990), "[i]f scope exceeds permitted terms validly character exception requirement, subsequent seizure unconstitutional more." mean while inside text see Michigan Summers, 452 692, 705 (1981) (Fourth allows temporary detainer homeowner pursuant warrant), require 325 (1987). Maryland Garrison, 79, 87 (1987) ("[T]he strictly limit permissible extent search"). 22 concede task. therefore present justification 23 directly aided stolen property, purpose identifying property tradition. e. g., Entick Carrington, How. St. Tr. 1029, 1067 B. 1765) (in goods " '[t]he owner swear lodged place. He attend shew officer, description") (quoted approval Boyd 116 616, 628 (1886)). 24 argue Wilsons' nonetheless served number legitimate purposes. assert should able exercise discretion about "further permit news warrant." ignores importance residential core ride-alongs further sense, furthering Were generalized "law objectives" themselves sufficient trump guaranteed significantly watered down. 25 serve facilitate activities. There certainly language opinions interpreting First points press" informing administration justice. Cox Broadcasting Corp. Cohn, 420 469, 491 492 (1975), example, said "in society individual resources hand operations government, relies press convenient form facts operations." Richmond Newspapers, Inc. Virginia, 448 572 573 (1980). No gainsay truth observations, freedom abridgement government. protects judged. 26 Surely possibility good relations simply enough, standing alone, justify intrusion And even issues bears direct relation 27 situations minimize abuses protect suspects, might videotape entries "quality control" effort ensure respected, preserve evidence, cf. Ohio Robinette, 519 33, 35 (1996) (noting use "mounted video camera" details routine traffic stop), situation working story own much less Wilsons. acting purposes, evidenced retained photographs. supra. 8, 28 taken violation warrant.2 III 29 Since Siegert, U.S., 233. As above, Part-II 818. What practice "whether protected personally liable unlawful turns 'objective reasonableness' action, assessed rules 'clearly established' taken." 639 (citing Harlow, 819); 30 Anderson, context depends largely "upon level generality 'legal rule' established." 639. "[t]he say unless apparent." 640 (internal citations omitted); Lanier, 520 259, 270 (1997). 31 plausibly asserted established," police. Some variation theory urged us 37, seems F.3d, 123. However, defined appropriate specificity established. 641. inquiry lawful, information possessed. Cf. ibid. 32 1992 here. invitation exceeded 33 sort become common practice,3 judicial holding became decision point intermediate which, though extensive analysis, unreasonable. Prahl Brosamle, Wis. 2d 130, 154 155, 295 N. W. 768, 782 (App. 1980). From courts, two unpublished dealing unorthodox non-Fourth theories. Moncrief Hanton, Media L. Rptr. 1620 (ND 1984); Higbee Times-Advocate, 2372 (SD Cal. These cases, establish" homes 34 slightly higher generality, Bills Aseltine, 958 F.2d 697 (CA6 1992), Sixth material precluding allowing security guard participate identify than described 709. Bills, mere weeks events anticipate today's unrelated 706. third-party 1992. brought attention conclusion reliance engaged cameras arrests.4 homes. Deposition Sheriff Raymond M. Kight, PJM 94 1718, p. 8. Such policy, belief contrary body here accompanying undeveloped, look rely policies. 36 Given law, "expected law." 562 (1978). Wood Strickland, 308, 321 (1975); Pierson Ray, 386 547, 557 (1967). Between decision, developed damages. 118 119; Ayeni Mottola, 680 (CA2 1994), cert. denied, 514 1062 (1995); Parker Boyer, 93 (CA8 1996), 1148 (1997); Berger Hanlon, 129 505 (CA9 1997), granted, If disagree unfair picking losing side controversy. 37 foregoing reasons, 38 ordered. 39 J. 41 43 44 Like appellate judge share Court's consented join opinion. 45 my view, homeowner's type trespass My sincere competence typical member profession precludes assent suggestion "a lawful." Ante, 11. resolution conflict issue.1 rule, statute (18 3105), decisions, testimony senior all position witness By contrast, opposing view finds following sources: bare assertion "is shut," ante, 11; 12; booklet someone mentions owner's consent, 46 today announced new Rather, refused recognize entirely unprecedented request well-established principle. That principle, broader provided itself, represents confluence forefathers' traditional American colonists' hatred 47 fairly Court, opinion, cites pages. All None nor, indeed, am aware repeats today. fact, fails colorable rationale exception. Respondents' merits consisted unpersuasive factual submission various albeit nebulous cogent rejection post hoc rationalizations characterized announcement 48 service lawyers scores issues. Generally speaking, Members sensitive needs community. virtually thought reasonable. handful unanimously find speaks single voice unusual lends notion indeed "open shut." 49 more perfectly "invitation Despite reaffirming rendered cite arguably supports proposition using power enable photographers regarded "reasonable" invasion privacy. 50 absence provides scant competent reasonably lawful do so. Prior 259 (1997), specifically extort sexual favors potential litigant. Yet, fair warning violating victim's 271 ("The easiest don't arise" (citations internal quotation marks omitted)). 51 Nor rulings precise assumption common. assume personnel "ride common, routinely allowed consent owners. Florida Publishing Fletcher, 340 So. 914, 918 (1976), widespread firefighters disaster areas pictures, interior buildings severely damaged fire. trespassers rested doctrine implied consent2 wholly inapplicable forcible warrant.3 52 addition lower none addresses ostensible officer's Case ripe reevalution.4 12. Two 1980 1984. restatement later 7, earlier possibly provide recognition scope. 53 officially reported makes theoretical especially anomalous.5 Moreover, acknowledges, rejected predicated media's plaintiffs' "unorthodox theories," 12, rather 768 1980) "not unreasonable" defendants' dismiss allegations committed party 's property.6 fully consistent similar trespass,7 surely 54 Far better evidence understanding County, commanding respondents: 'We let civilian . That's just allowed.' 41. 55 most disturbing aspect ruling document discussing "ride-alongs" employee office Service. document, portions set out appendix, quite author lawyer, concerned developing proper image Service, 56 interest creating favorable impression Congress. occupies pages joint appendix suggests handing free T-Shirts caps "grease skids," contains discussion conditions satisfied newsperson guidelines how act speak front camera, indicate until "signal" given. 7. not, purport give guidance regarding signal given, ever given homeowner, carry mission. well-trained cadre professionals performance assignments too farfetched merit consideration. 57 58 exists found itself reminds us, contravened shielding implicated unsettled margins jurisprudence, authorizes reaffirms. 59 respectfully dissent. 60 APPENDIX OPINION STEVENS, 61 "MEDIA RIDE-ALONGS 62 agencies, interests accomplishes designated duties. Keeping adequately informed viewed duty depend accomplish that. 63 "Media 'ride-alongs' method promote picture work. Ride-alongs, name implies, opportunities camera crews go Deputies operational missions see, record, happens. result usually graphic dynamic subsequently aired TV printed newspaper, magazine, book. 64 "However, successful 'happen' spontaneous fashion. careful planning detail smoothly receive operates. describes considerations nearly ride-along." 65 "Establish Ground Rules 66 "Another idea actually, it's essential establish ground start convey person. Address covered when, restrictions encountered, interview guidelines. 67 "Emphasize explain dangers involved. Make realistic balanced remember, want footage, mop-up scene. planned building, agree ahead signal." 68 won't It's speaking loudly words, getting exposure possible." 69 'Waving Flag' 70 "One consequence 'waving flag' accomplished easily recognized USMS raid jackets, prominently displaying badges, exhibiting identifiable know you kind job do. goals ride-along. So having whim overall success 71 "Of crucial. end up quote, attributed it. Sometimes prove embarrassing. try visualize words sound TV. Being pleasant professional times key, includes drawn statements inappropriate comments. Using sense rule." 72 "You air print. Ask she keep matter. You 'grease skids' offering reporter, person, memento caps, mugs, T-shirts, help rapport future." 73 "Getting final Product 74 "Naturally, product airs appears newspaper. arrange clip resulting stories send copy clipping Office Congressional Public Affairs." 13. Notes 75 1. respects. way read follows: State Maryland, greeting: hereby Jerome he/she your bailiwick, immediately session, Judicial Center, indictment, information, appeals unto concerning certain charge Robbery [Violation Probation] committed, hath presented, forth. Hereof fail peril, then writ. Witness." 37. 76 Even lawfully present, occasion exclusionary discovered representatives. 3. (1976) (it 'is long-standing' homes), 431 930 (1977); Zoglin, Live Vice Beat, Time, Dec. 22, 1986, increasingly letting tag raids"). 78 distributed recommended "fugitive normally offer possibilities ride-alongs." useful portray light, shoot "good scene." advised agents 79 emphasize issue. Nor, infra, 6, reached odds holding. Any Three whereas Eighth accepted 680, 686 1994); 1992); 1997); 1998) (en banc); 1996). 80 held: trial properly determined genuine respondent's petitioner's employees non-actionable custom, usage, shown custom premises ' fire great [I]t longstanding throughout country occurred.' 2d, 917 918. reference 3, misleadingly "widespread practice" referred court's practice; 81 Indeed, Wisconsin state-court authority, pains distinguish case: "We imply matter known building after newsworthy event within building. knowledge possessor conclude usage confer case." 149 150, 710 82 notes, subject, "anticipate[d] Circuit, unreported considered determining Hogan Carter, 85 1113, 1118 (1996). 84 6. Bronsamle, 295, ("A claims Lieutenant Kuenning Dane Country extend [the press] land another. privileged, participating press]"). correct dismissal plaintiff's newscaster color rejecting "for based disclosure incident," "[w]e unwilling accept filming television broadcast seizure, more, unreasonableness." 138, 774. Important that, unlike unnecessary male participation schoolgirls Doe Duter, F. Supp. 922 (WD 1976), "[n]either Dr. film include intimate, offensive vulgar aspects." stationed entryway interview. 86 Daingerfield Thompson, Va. 136, 151 (1880) ("There seems, settled, authorities necessary, this: wrongfully contribute manner commission trespass, responsible principals, done"); Keeton, Dobbs, R. Owen, Prosser Keeton Law Torts §13, (5th ed. 1984).

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