Lange v. California

The case asks whether police may enter a home or attached garage without a warrant while chasing someone suspected of a misdemeanor (a less serious crime). The dispute centers on whether that kind of chase automatically counts as an emergency under the Fourth Amendment.

The case is still pending, and oral argument has not yet been scheduled in the Court record provided here. The key issue is whether pursuit of a suspected misdemeanant always creates an emergency that lets police enter without a warrant.

The answer could affect everyday police encounters, including traffic stops and low-level offenses that end at a person's front door or garage. It matters to officers deciding whether to act immediately and to residents claiming privacy in their homes.

The next major step is oral argument or another scheduling move from the Court. No decision window is available yet.

The Court is weighing whether police may always enter a home without a warrant when chasing someone suspected of a misdemeanor. The case focuses on Fourth Amendment limits.

Drivers, homeowners, and police officers could all be affected. The rule could shape what happens when a minor suspected offense leads to a home's doorway or garage.

Watch for the Court to schedule oral argument or make another docket move. That will signal when the justices are preparing to address the question.