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Merrill v. Seagraves — 10th Cir. (Sep 14, 2026)

No. 25-7060 Argued September 14, 2026 Published September 26, 2026

The Tenth Circuit hears cross-appeals from a 2020 traffic stop in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Officer Jonathan Seagraves stopped Ryan Merrill for an expired tag and a faulty brake light. After a dispute about how far to open his window, Merrill drove away; police followed him to a house, where he ran onto a porch. Seagraves used a Taser twice, roughly fifteen seconds apart. Merrill says the first shock left him unable to comply with officers' commands; Seagraves says he reasonably perceived continued resistance. Merrill sued for excessive force. The district court dismissed his claim over the first Taser use but let the claim over the second proceed. Seagraves will seek qualified immunity for the second use, a protection that depends in part on whether a violated right was clearly established. Merrill will ask the appeals court to review the first use as well.

Merrill v. Seagraves (No. 25-7060) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, argued September 14, 2026.

Sources
Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit (public domain, 17 U.S.C. § 105):https://www.ca10.uscourts.gov/sites/ca10/files/oralarguments/25-7060.mp3
Argument listing — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit:https://www.ca10.uscourts.gov/oralargument/search-results?field_oa_hearing_date_value%5Bmin%5D%5Bdate%5D=08%2F01%2F2026&field_oa_hearing_date_value%5Bmax%5D%5Bdate%5D=09%2F26%2F2026
E.D. Okla. summary-judgment order (June 30, 2025):https://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/oklahoma/okedce/6%3A2022cv00007/32291/109
Tenth Circuit's earlier Merrill v. Fell opinion (December 21, 2023):https://www.ca10.uscourts.gov/sites/ca10/files/opinions/010110972552.pdf
Tenth Circuit cross-appeal docket:https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/ca10/25-7060
Tenth Circuit precedent explaining pendent appellate jurisdiction:https://www.ca10.uscourts.gov/sites/ca10/files/opinions/010110699363.pdf

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