On January 14, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a unanimous ruling in Case v. Montana addressing when police may enter a home without a warrant during an emergency. The Court held that officers need "an objectively reasonable basis for believing that an occupant is seriously injured or imminently threatened with such injury." The decision settles a longstanding debate among courts about what standard officers must meet before conducting warrantless entries to help someone in crisis.
The Case Behind the Ruling
The case arose from a 2021 incident in Anaconda, Montana, where officers responded after William Case's ex-girlfriend reported he had threatened suicide during a phone call. She told dispatchers she heard what sounded like a gun being cocked, then a "pop," followed by silence. When officers arrived, they knocked and called out for roughly 40 minutes but received no response. They then entered without a warrant.
Case, who was hiding in a closet, emerged appearing to hold a weapon, and an officer shot him. He was later charged with assaulting an officer and argued that police lacked "probable cause," the higher standard typically required for criminal investigations, to enter his home. Justice Elena Kagan, who wrote the Court's opinion, rejected that argument, explaining that probable cause "is peculiarly related to criminal investigations" and doesn't fit situations where officers are trying to help rather than investigate.
What It Means for Cities
Local government groups welcomed the ruling.
The Local Government Legal Center, National League of Cities, National Association of Counties, International City/County Management Association, and International Municipal Lawyers Association had filed a brief in the case. They argued that welfare checks and crisis calls "are a central function of modern policing." Requiring probable cause, they said, "would impede public safety and endanger lives."
Anaconda-Deer Lodge Police Chief Bill Sather said, "We knew at the time our officers did the right thing in trying to help one of our citizens. Today's decision makes it much easier for officers to do their job."
A Note of Caution
The ruling does include some important caveats. In a separate opinion, Justice Sotomayor emphasized the risks when police respond to mental health crises. She suggested officers should consider alternatives before forcing entry, such as contacting family members or calling specialized crisis units. For cities, this may reinforce the value of investing in de-escalation training and mental health response programs.