No. 25-1420October Term 2025Before Arguments
Betty Jo Shelby, Petitioner v. Michael Manning, as Administrator of the Estate of Terence Crutcher, Sr., et al.
from the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.
Case status
- Current stage
- Before Arguments
- Latest event
- Accepted by the Court
- Decision timing
- No window until argument is scheduled.
- What it's about
from the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.
Question presented
Whether the Tenth Circuit’s qualified immunity analysis conflicts with this Court’s repeated instruction that clearly established law must be defined with a high degree of specificity and grounded in precedent squarely governing the officer’s conduct under the particular circumstances confronted.
- Case path
United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit / Accepted by the Court
- Area
Supreme Court case awaiting argument
Timing
Expected by late June 2026, if argued this term
The Court granted review but has not yet scheduled oral argument. Once argued, the median case reaches a decision in 94 days. Nearly all cases are decided by the end of the term in which they are argued.
Briefing
What it's about
Officer Betty Shelby is asking the Supreme Court to review a Tenth Circuit ruling in a civil case brought by the estate of Terence Crutcher Sr. The fight is over qualified immunity (a rule that can shield officers from damages suits) and whether courts must rely on closely matching past cases.
Argument
A petition asking the Court to hear the case has been filed, and oral argument has not been scheduled. Shelby says the Tenth Circuit relied on broad principles instead of closely matching precedent.
Impact
The case could affect when police officers can be sued after force incidents and how hard it is for plaintiffs to get past qualified immunity. That matters to officers facing personal liability and to families seeking damages in lawsuits over constitutional rights.
What is at stake in Shelby v. Manning?
The case asks whether the Tenth Circuit denied qualified immunity by using broad rules instead of closely matching past cases. That issue could shape how similar police-force suits are judged.
Who could be affected if the Court takes Betty Jo Shelby v. Manning?
Police officers defending damages suits could get a clearer shield from liability. Families bringing constitutional claims could face a tougher path if close factual matches are required.
What happens next in Betty Jo Shelby v. Manning?
The justices must decide whether to hear the case. If they do, the Court would later set oral argument, but no date is available now.
Related cases
Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary materials plus reporting.
- Note
- Best-effort analysis: this explainer relies on a mix of primary materials and trusted secondary sources. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Jul 23, 2026
- Method
- Methodology