Police shooting during chase
Chadrin Lee Mullenix v. Luna
In brief
The Supreme Court overturned the Fifth Circuit’s decision denying Mullenix qualified immunity.
- Where it stands
- Decided
Decided · November 9, 2015 · Per curiam
- What it’s about
- Texas trooper Chadrin Mullenix sought qualified immunity (legal protection from a lawsuit under certain conditions) after firing at Israel Leija’s car during a high-speed chase.
- Who it affects
- The Fifth Circuit’s ruling denying Mullenix qualified immunity was overturned.
Summary: written with AI from the case record.
What it's about
The Supreme Court overturned the Fifth Circuit’s ruling that Mullenix was not entitled to that protection; Justice Sotomayor dissented.
Justice Sotomayor’s dissent said Mullenix fired six shots at Leija’s car as it traveled 85 mph, less than a second before spike strips were deployed. Leija died.
Qualified immunity can protect government officials from lawsuits under certain conditions.
Question presented
Did the district court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit err in determining that Chadrin Lee Mullenix was not entitled to qualified immunity?
What the Court decided
Holding
Petition granted. Judgment reversed Justice Scalia, concurring in the judgment. Justice Sotomayor, dissenting. Opinion per curiam.
- Result
- Reversed
The vote
- Majority author
- Sotomayor
- Dissenting
- Sonia Sotomayor
From the opinions
“Because it was clearly established under the Fourth Amendment that an officer in Mullenix’s position should not have fired the shots, I respectfully dissent from the grant of summary reversal.”
What's next
The Supreme Court has finished its review of the case.
Documents
Opinions
Docket activity
New analysis added
AI analysis generated: Case Briefing
AI analysis generated: Decision Record
Case data updated: summary, question_presented, generation_metadata
Case data updated: question_presented, extraction_metadata
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Opinion added: Mullenix
More questions
- What did Justice Scalia say?
- He agreed with the result but said the shooting should not be described as deadly force because the force was not aimed at Leija’s body.
Sources
Primary materials plus reporting. Best-effort analysis: this explainer relies on a mix of primary materials and trusted secondary sources. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.