Protection from lawsuits for prosecutors
Harrington v. Martin
In brief
The Supreme Court wiped out the Seventh Circuit's judgment (vacated it) and sent Martin's case back for another look (remanded); it did not decide the dispute.
- Where it stands
- Case remanded
Remanded · November 9, 2026
- What it’s about
- Former deputy sheriff Randall Martin sued two prosecutors over disclosures to a prospective law-enforcement employer about alleged excessive force and false or improper statements, claiming they conspired to violate his due-process rights.
- Who it affects
- The Seventh Circuit must reconsider Martin's case in light of Zorn; the Supreme Court did not decide whether the prosecutors violated his rights.
Summary: written with AI from the case record.
What it's about
The Supreme Court wiped out the Seventh Circuit’s judgment (vacated it) and sent the case back (remanded) for reconsideration in light of Zorn v. Linton.
Martin alleged the prosecutors shared claims of excessive force and false or improper statements with a prospective law-enforcement employer.
The case raised whether the appeals court defined the right Martin claimed with enough specificity and stuck to issues the parties raised.
Question presented
Whether the decision below conflicts with this Court’s clear, repeated admonitions that lower courts must define clearly established rights with specificity and adhere to the principle of party presentation.
What the Court decided
Holding
Petition granted. Judgment vacated and case remanded for further consideration in light of Zorn v. Linton, 607 U. S. 568 (2026).
- Result
- Remanded
The Court's reasoning
The Court ordered reconsideration in light of Zorn v. Linton, but its order gives no further explanation.
What's next
The Seventh Circuit will reconsider the case in light of Zorn v. Linton. The Supreme Court did not decide the underlying dispute.
Documents
Docket activity
New analysis added
AI analysis generated: Case Briefing
New analysis added
Case data updated: summary, question_presented, generation_metadata
AI analysis generated: Decision Record
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Case data updated: term, status, opinion_date, cert_granted_date
Petition GRANTED. Judgment VACATED and case REMANDED for further consideration in light of Zorn v. Linton, 607 U. S. 568 (2026).
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Case data updated: documents, description, document_url, proceeding_type
Case data updated: documents, description, document_url, proceeding_type
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.