Kentucky v. King
| Docket No. | Op. Below | Argument | Opinion | Vote | Author | Term |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09-1272 | S. Ct. of KY | Jan 12, 2011 | May 16, 2011 | 8-1 | Alito | OT 2010 |
Holding: The exigent circumstances rule applies when the police do not create the exigency by engaging in or threatening to engage in conduct that violates the Fourth Amendment.
Plain English Holding: Police may enter a home without a warrant in response to an emergency (including the imminent destruction of evidence) so long as the police do not themselves create the emergency through conduct that violates the Fourth Amendment.
Judgment: Kentucky Supreme Court Reversed, 8-1, in an opinion by Justice Alito on May 16, 2011. Justice Ginsburg filed a dissent.
SCOTUSblog Coverage
- This week at the Court: In Plain English (Lisa Tucker, May 19, 2011)
- Opinion recap: Court articulates test for exigent circumstances (Holly Ragan, May 18, 2011)
- Choosing the rule for police-created exigencies in Kentucky v. King (Orin Kerr, May 17, 2011)
- New curb on Bivens remedy? (Lyle Denniston, May 16, 2011)
- January's arguments: In Plain English (Lisa Tucker, January 22, 2011)
- Argument recap: Choosing the rule for warrantless searches when police create exigent circumstances (Holly Ragan, January 14, 2011)
- Argument day podcasts: Kentucky v. King (Adam Schlossman, January 12, 2011)
- Argument preview: When does police conduct create exigent circumstances, thereby precluding an entry or search without a warrant? (Holly Ragan, January 9, 2011)
- Police-created exigent circumstances in Kentucky v. King (Orin Kerr, January 5, 2011)
Briefs and Documents
Merits Briefs
- Brief for Petitioner Commonwealth of Kentucky
- Brief for Respondent Hollis Deshaun King
- Reply Brief for Petitioner Commonwealth of Kentucky
- Respondent’s Motion to Dismiss the Petition as Improvidently Granted
- Petitioner’s Response to Respondent’s Motion to Dismiss
Amicus Briefs
- Brief for Effective Law Enforcement, Inc., the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and the National Sheriffs Association in Support of Petitioner
- Brief for the United States in Support of Petitioner
- Brief for the States of Indiana, Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming in Support of Petitioner
Certiorari-stage documents
- Opinion below (S. Ct. of KY)
- Petition for certiorari
- Brief in opposition (unavailable)
- Amicus brief of states (unavailable)
- Petitioner's reply (unavailable)
