Overview
- All nine justices agreed that officers may enter a home without a warrant only when facts support an objectively reasonable belief that someone is seriously injured or facing imminent harm.
- Justice Elena Kagan wrote that a probable‑cause threshold would not fit the non‑criminal, emergency‑aid context, and she cautioned that any entry cannot justify searches beyond what is needed to help and ensure safety.
- The ruling upheld the actions of Anaconda‑Deer Lodge officers who entered William Trevor Case’s home during a 2021 welfare check after about 40 minutes with no response and observations suggesting a suicide risk.
- Case emerged holding what officers perceived as a black object, an officer shot and wounded him, and a handgun was later found nearby; he was convicted of felony assault on a peace officer after evidence was admitted.
- Concurring opinions highlighted broader issues, with Justice Sonia Sotomayor urging care in mental‑health crises and Justice Neil Gorsuch noting the exception’s historical roots, while Montana officials praised the decision as guidance for law enforcement.