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CASE LAW

The 6 decisions the Oregon file rests on. Each one carries the question it answers in plain words, how far it reaches, and the sections of this guide that stand on it.

6 of 6 have a summary written. A summary is not the decision: every card links to the opinion, and the one thing that settles what a case held is reading it.

6 decisions

U.S. Supreme Court

Binds every court in the country.

Can refusing a test be a separate crime?

Birchfield v. North Dakota · 579 U.S. 438 (2016) · 2016

The Court held that a breath test may be administered as a search incident to a lawful arrest for drunk driving without a warrant, and that a blood test may not. It held that a driver may not be criminally punished for refusing a blood test where no warrant was obtained.

Summary written from the holding as established and reported, not from the text of the decision.

The section that rests on it

Read the decision

What standard applies when an officer uses force on me?

Graham v. Connor · 490 U.S. 386 (1989) · 1989

The Court held that a claim of excessive force during an arrest, investigatory stop or other seizure is analyzed under the Fourth Amendment's objective reasonableness standard, judged from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene rather than with hindsight.

Summary written from the holding as established and reported, not from the text of the decision.

The section that rests on it

Read the decision

Do I have to give my name to an officer?

Hiibel v. Sixth Judicial District · 542 U.S. 177 (2004) · 2004

The Court held that a state law requiring a person lawfully detained on reasonable suspicion to state their name does not violate the Fourth Amendment, and on the facts of that case did not violate the Fifth Amendment privilege against self incrimination.

Since Whether any such duty exists is a question of each state's own statute. What Oregon requires is in the section this case is cited from.

Summary written from the holding as established and reported, not from the text of the decision.

The section that rests on it

Read the decision

Can they draw my blood without a warrant because alcohol burns off?

Missouri v. McNeely · 569 U.S. 141 (2013) · 2013

The Court held that the natural dissipation of alcohol in the bloodstream does not by itself create a per se exigency justifying a warrantless blood draw in every drunk driving case, and that exigency is decided on the totality of the circumstances, case by case.

Summary written from the holding as established and reported, not from the text of the decision.

The section that rests on it

Read the decision

When can an officer use deadly force on someone fleeing?

Tennessee v. Garner · 471 U.S. 1 (1985) · 1985

The Court held that deadly force may not be used to prevent the escape of a fleeing suspect unless the officer has probable cause to believe the suspect poses a significant threat of death or serious physical injury to the officer or others.

Summary written from the holding as established and reported, not from the text of the decision.

The section that rests on it

Read the decision

Can an officer stop and pat me down without arresting me?

Terry v. Ohio · 392 U.S. 1 (1968) · 1968

An officer who can point to specific facts suggesting criminal activity may stop a person briefly to investigate, and where the officer reasonably believes that person is armed and dangerous may pat down their outer clothing for weapons. The Court described the pat down as a search for weapons and limited it to that purpose.

Summary written from the holding as established and reported, not from the text of the decision.

The section that rests on it

Read the decision