Prison suicide prevention
Taylor v. Barkes
In brief
The Supreme Court overturned the Third Circuit’s judgment in Stanley Taylor’s case.
- Where it stands
- Decided
Decided · June 1, 2015 · Per curiam
- What it’s about
- Stanley Taylor’s case concerned whether earlier law had clearly established an Eighth Amendment right for incarcerated people to have prison officials properly follow suicide-prevention procedures. The Supreme Court overturned the Third Circuit’s judgment.
- Who it affects
- The Court overturned the judgment in Taylor’s case; it did not strike down a law or prison policy.
Summary: written with AI from the case record.
What it's about
The dispute focused on whether earlier court decisions had clearly established the claimed constitutional right.
Question presented
Is there a clearly established constitutional right under the Eighth Amendment for an incarcerated person to have access to the proper implementation of adequate suicide prevention protocols?
What the Court decided
Holding
The judgment of the Third Circuit is reversed.
- Result
- Reversed
The vote
- Majority author
- Per Curiam
- Dissenting
- Stephen G. Breyer, Elena Kagan, Clarence Thomas, Antonin Scalia, Anthony M. Kennedy, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sonia Sotomayor, John G. Roberts, Jr., Samuel A. Alito, Jr.
What's next
The Supreme Court has completed its review of the case.
Documents
Opinions
Docket activity
New analysis added
AI analysis generated: Case Briefing
New analysis added
New analysis added
New analysis added
Show 6 moreShow fewer
New analysis added
New analysis added
AI analysis generated: Decision Record
Case data updated: summary, question_presented, generation_metadata
Case data updated: question_presented, extraction_metadata
Opinion added: Taylor
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.