⚖ Oral Arguments, with Context

The Ninth Circuit considers whether a police-shooting lawsuit should go to a jury. Nathan Honeycutt fled an attempted traffic stop, first in a pickup and then on foot. Clackamas County deputies wrestled him to the ground. Deputy Bento says he found a pistol in Honeycutt's hand during the struggle, then fired three shots. Honeycutt died, and his father, Danny Honeycutt, sued on behalf of his estate. A federal judge granted summary judgment—a decision without a trial—finding the shooting legally reasonable. Kevin Lafky will ask for a jury to decide disputed facts about how much control the deputies had over Honeycutt and whether he posed an immediate threat. You'll also hear qualified immunity: protection for individual officers from damages unless they violated clearly established federal law.

Honeycutt v. Clackamas County Sheriff's Office, et al. (No. 25-2259) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, argued October 27, 2026.