United States v. Donte J. Carter

The Supreme Court is considering whether to take a D.C. case about when a police encounter becomes a seizure under the Fourth Amendment. The petition asks whether courts may weigh perceptions of law enforcement that a court attributes to a racial group when judging whether a member of that group was seized.

The case is still at the certiorari (the Court's decision to hear a case) stage. No substantive justice or advocate reactions are available yet.

The answer could change how judges evaluate police encounters and whether evidence from them can be used in court. It would matter to people who say police pressure made them feel they were not free to leave.

The petition asks whether courts may consider race-linked perceptions of police when deciding if a person was seized under the Fourth Amendment.

People contesting police stops, plus officers and prosecutors, could be affected because the rule may shape whether evidence from an encounter can be used.

The Court must first decide whether to hear the case, called certiorari (the Court's decision to review a case). If the Court takes it, briefing and oral argument would follow.