This is why I said that the laws you cited didn't exactly sanction shooting a person deemed to be a fleeing felon. I asked my AI assistant about the rulings and then I asked it specifically if Washington State allowing shooting a person perceived to be a fleeing felon in the back:
Me: Can you explain why when the Supreme Court of the United States upholds the constitutionality of a state law, that it only applies to that state and not all states, such as in Tennessee vs Garner, People vs Couch, and in South Carolina in State vs Cooney + the state action doctrine?
AIBot: The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) has the authority to interpret the Constitution and make decisions that can affect the entire country. However, when it upholds the constitutionality of a specific state law, the immediate practical effect of that decision can be limited to the state where the case originated. Here’s a detailed explanation of why this is the case, touching upon key legal principles and doctrines:
1. Specific Case Context
When the Supreme Court rules on a specific state law, it is deciding the constitutionality of that particular law within the context of the case before it. The ruling directly affects the parties involved in the case and the state law in question. For example, in
Tennessee v. Garner (1985), the Court ruled on a Tennessee statute related to the use of deadly force by law enforcement. This decision immediately affected law enforcement practices in Tennessee.
2. Precedent and Persuasive Authority
While a SCOTUS ruling sets a binding precedent on the specific constitutional issue addressed, other states are not automatically required to change their laws unless they have similar statutes that would likely be challenged and found unconstitutional based on the precedent. However, the precedent serves as persuasive authority, guiding lower courts across the country in similar cases.
3. Federalism and State Sovereignty
The U.S. operates under a federal system where states have sovereignty to create and enforce their own laws. SCOTUS respects this federalism by not directly altering state laws unless those laws are challenged and found unconstitutional. Each state retains the authority to interpret and enforce laws unless there is a direct conflict with the Constitution as interpreted by SCOTUS.
4. State Action Doctrine
The state action doctrine is a principle stating that constitutional protections apply primarily to government actions, not private conduct. This doctrine is relevant when assessing the applicability of SCOTUS decisions. In cases like
State v. Cooney, the state court’s interpretation of its own laws within the framework of constitutional guidelines can lead to differing applications, but these decisions must still align with broader constitutional principles.
5. Application to Specific Cases
- Tennessee v. Garner: This case specifically addressed the constitutionality of the use of deadly force by police under Tennessee law. While the ruling set a national precedent on the use of deadly force, it directly struck down the Tennessee statute.
- People v. Couch: If this refers to a state court decision, the ruling would be binding within that state but would not automatically apply to other states unless they have similar legal questions that lead to higher court challenges.
- State v. Cooney: This would similarly affect South Carolina specifically unless SCOTUS is involved and addresses a broader constitutional issue that sets a national precedent.
6. Subsequent Legal Challenges
If a state law is similar to one that SCOTUS has found unconstitutional, it can be challenged in state or federal courts. Lower courts are bound by SCOTUS precedents, so they will likely rule in line with the established constitutional interpretation. Eventually, if the issue is significant and widespread, it could lead to another SCOTUS ruling that might more explicitly apply nationwide.
Conclusion
When SCOTUS upholds or strikes down a state law, it directly impacts the state in question, but it also sets a precedent that influences the entire legal landscape. Other states may choose to align their laws with the ruling to avoid potential challenges. The interplay between federalism, state sovereignty, and the precedent set by SCOTUS ensures that while a decision may start with one state, its effects can ripple through the entire country over time as similar issues are addressed in other jurisdictions.
Me: does washington state have a rcw or other law allowing shooting a fleeing felon in the back?
AIBot: Washington State law does address the use of deadly force by law enforcement officers, but it does not explicitly allow the shooting of a fleeing felon in the back. Instead, Washington's Revised Code of Washington (RCW) sets forth standards for when deadly force is justified.
Relevant Washington State Law: RCW 9A.16.040
The primary statute governing the use of deadly force by law enforcement officers in Washington State is RCW 9A.16.040. This statute outlines the circumstances under which an officer may use deadly force:
- When a public officer is acting in obedience to the judgment of a competent court;
- When necessarily used by a peace officer or person acting under the officer's command and in the officer's aid:
- To arrest or apprehend a person who the officer reasonably believes has committed, has attempted to commit, is committing, or is attempting to commit a felony;
- To prevent the escape of a person from a federal or state correctional facility or in retaking a person who escapes from such a facility;
- To prevent the escape of a person from a county or city jail or holding facility if the person is awaiting trial, sentencing, or transfer to a federal or state correctional facility.
- **When necessarily used by a peace officer or person acting under the officer's command and in the officer's aid to:
- Arrest a person who the officer reasonably believes has committed a misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor involving physical harm or threats of harm to any person or property or the use or possession of a firearm or other deadly weapon;**
- When used by a duly appointed public officer to prevent a person who reasonably appears to pose an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury to the officer or others from inflicting such harm.
Supreme Court Precedent: Tennessee v. Garner
As established by the Supreme Court in
Tennessee v. Garner (1985),
the use of deadly force to prevent the escape of an unarmed, non-dangerous fleeing suspect is unconstitutional. This landmark decision states that an officer may use deadly force to stop a fleeing suspect only if the officer has probable cause to believe that the suspect poses a significant threat of death or serious physical injury to the officer or others.
Application in Washington State
Given this precedent, Washington's law must be interpreted in a way that aligns with the constitutional standards set by
Tennessee v. Garner. Therefore
, while Washington law provides guidelines on the use of force, it does not and cannot legally authorize the use of deadly force in a manner that violates this Supreme Court ruling.
Conclusion
Washington State does not have a law explicitly allowing the shooting of a fleeing felon in the back. The state's use of force statute, RCW 9A.16.040, sets standards that must be interpreted in light of constitutional limitations imposed by federal law, particularly the standards established in
Tennessee v. Garner. Officers are permitted to use deadly force only under circumstances where there is a reasonable belief of an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury.