Scalia, Sniper Feature in High Court Police-Shooting Argument (1)

Justice Samuel Alito asked if pitchers hitting batters and snipers shooting targets constituted “seizures” during Supreme Court argument Wednesday over the meaning of the Fourth Amendment.

How those hypotheticals and other issues raised during the argument are resolved could affect whether the woman at the center of the dispute, Roxanne Torres, can sue officers for excessive force. They shot her, but she got away, an escape that could limit her legal options. A decision in the case is expected by late June.

The justices are grappling with the original meaning of “seizure” and how an opinion by the late Justice ...