⚖ Oral Arguments, with Context

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Derrel Thomas v. Matthew Beebe, et al. — 11th Cir. (Sep 30, 2026)

No. 24-12604 Argued September 30, 2026 Published October 2, 2026

Derrel Thomas asks the Eleventh Circuit to revive his unlawful-entry claim. His lawsuit describes a dispute involving his wife and a locksmith at his home. Thomas says he asked sheriff's deputies to leave and shut himself in the garage, but they entered the house without a warrant and arrested him for battery. He then sued over the entry. The district court dismissed his constitutional claims, relying on his later battery conviction to establish probable cause for the arrest. The central question is whether grounds to arrest him also justified entering his home. Exigent circumstances are urgent conditions that can justify entering without a warrant. Before reaching the merits, the judges must decide whether he appealed too soon, while he could still amend his remaining trespass claims.

Derrel Thomas v. Matthew Beebe, et al. (No. 24-12604) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, argued September 30, 2026.

Sources
Argument audio — Eleventh Circuit (public domain, 17 U.S.C. § 105):https://www.ca11.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/oral_argument_recordings/24-12604_09302026.mp3
Argument date and case listing — Eleventh Circuit:https://www.ca11.uscourts.gov/oral-argument-recordings?page=0&title=24-
Complaint allegations and initial dismissal — M.D. Fla., July 18, 2024 order (Doc. 36):https://ecf.flmd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/show_public_doc?2023-01699-36-8-cv=
Constitutional-claim dismissal and leave to amend — M.D. Fla., August 8, 2024 order (Doc. 41):https://ecf.flmd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/show_public_doc?2023-01699-41-8-cv=
Notice of appeal and remaining trespass claims — M.D. Fla., August 15, 2024 order (Doc. 50):https://ecf.flmd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/show_public_doc?2023-01699-50-8-cv=
Counsel appearances — appellate docket mirrored by Justia (snapshot October 8, 2024; not current case status):https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/ca11/24-12604
Damon Starrett's firm — Hilyard, Bogan & Palmer:https://www.hilyardlawfirm.com/team/damon-s-starrett/
Home entry and exigent circumstances — Payton v. New York, Supreme Court opinion:https://www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/445/573
Emergency-aid exception — Brigham City v. Stuart, Supreme Court opinion:https://www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/05-502.ZO.html
Three-judge panels and en banc composition — 28 U.S.C. § 46, Cornell LII:https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/28/46
En banc determination — Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 40, official court rule text:https://ww3.ca2.uscourts.gov/clerk/case_filing/rules/title7/rule_40.html

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