No. 23-50October Term 2023Decided Jun 20, 2024
Chiaverini v. City of Napoleon, Ohio
The Supreme Court ruled that a Fourth Amendment malicious prosecution claim can proceed regarding a baseless criminal charge, even if other valid charges supported by probable cause were brought at the same time.
Case status
- Current stage
- Decided
- Latest event
- Decision released Jun 20, 2024
- What it's about
The Supreme Court ruled that a Fourth Amendment malicious prosecution claim can proceed regarding a baseless criminal charge, even if other valid charges supported by probable cause were brought at the same time. The Court rejected a lower court's rule that the presence of probable cause for any single charge automatically defeats a malicious prosecution claim for other baseless charges.
Question presented
May a Fourth Amendment malicious-prosecution claim proceed as to a baseless criminal charge so long as other charges brought alongside the baseless charge are supported by probable cause?
- Case path
United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit / Decision released Jun 20, 2024
- Area
Criminal Procedure
Timing
Decided June 20, 2024
The Court released its decision 66 days after oral argument on April 15, 2024. The median for cases argued in April is 58 days.
Documents
Related cases




Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary-source trail available.
- Note
- Plain-English explainer. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Mar 30, 2026
- Method
- Methodology
Primary materials8
Supreme Court docket 23-50
docket | Mar 30, 2026
Primary case document
Supreme Court document | Mar 30, 2026
CourtListener docket record
docket | Mar 30, 2026
Questions Presented
brief | Mar 8, 2026
Chiaverini
opinion | Jun 20, 2024
opinion
opinion | Jun 20, 2024
Petition
brief | Jul 14, 2023
Lower Court Orders/Opinions
order | Apr 21, 2023