Supreme Court to Address Whether Police Can Enter a Home Without a Warrant

 Posted on October 22, 2025 in Criminal Defense

In recent years, criminal justice advocates have raised concerns about police violence, including in situations where officers conduct raids or otherwise enter people’s homes. These situations may escalate, leading to injuries or deaths when officers open fire on people that they believe are carrying weapons or may present a threat. While advocates have worked to put policies in place that will limit these types of incidents, the U.S. Supreme Court seems poised to provide officers with more leeway in these situations.

Police raids, search warrants, and other related issues can play a significant role in a criminal case. People who have been charged with crimes in these situations will need to understand what steps they can take to defend against convictions. They can do so with the help of a skilled criminal defense lawyer who can advise them of their rights and provide representation in court.

Supreme Court Addresses Probable Cause in Non-Criminal Cases

The Supreme Court is currently reviewing the case of Case v. Montana, which involved a situation in which police officers entered a man’s home in response to a potential emergency. The man in question had a history of threats to commit suicide, and he had previously attempted to provoke police into shooting him. When the man’s girlfriend called police stating that he had threatened suicide, police officers went to his home. They entered the home, believing that doing so was necessary to prevent the man from harming himself. When an officer saw that the man was carrying an object that could be a weapon, the officer shot him in the abdomen. Mr. Case was later charged with assault against a police officer.

During his trial, the defendant argued that the police had entered his home without a warrant. The state argued that a warrant is not needed in situations that do not involve a criminal investigation. Since this was a case in which police were responding to an emergency and taking steps to provide aid, the state argued that the probable cause standard that applies in criminal matters would not apply in this situation.

The justices on the Supreme Court seemed to agree with the state’s arguments. When hearing arguments in the case, the justices made comments indicating that applying the probable cause standard may prevent police from being able to respond appropriately to emergency situations. They also cited the 2005 Supreme Court case of Brigham City v. Stuart, in which the court ruled that a warrant is not required to enter a home if police reasonably believe that emergency help is needed.

A ruling in this case is expected in June or July of 2026. While it seems that the Supreme Court may find that the police officers in this case were justified in entering the man’s home, this may open the door to more situations in which people may be injured or killed due to police violence. Criminal justice advocates have addressed the issue of no-knock warrants in which police do not announce their presence before entering a home or conducting a raid. These types of warrants have led to multiple people being shot or otherwise injured. Advocates are hoping to limit the use of no-knock warrants or other situations where police enter people’s homes, but court rulings may make it more difficult to do so.

Contact Our Hartford Criminal Defense Attorneys

When police conduct raids or enter people’s homes for other reasons, these situations can be dangerous. In some cases, people may face criminal charges because they were simply trying to defend themselves. At Woolf & Ross Law Firm, LLC, our attorneys work with defendants to ensure that their rights are protected. We can help address police misconduct or police violence as we help defend against criminal charges. To get the legal help you need, contact our Connecticut criminal defense lawyers at 860-290-8690 and arrange a free consultation.