The Supreme Court case of Messerschmidt v. Millender (2012) revolves around the execution of a search warrant for firearms and evidence of gang activity in a home. The officers involved were granted qualified immunity, which shields government officials from personal liability for discretionary actions taken within their official capacity, as long as their conduct does not violate clearly established statutory or constitutional rights.
The case began when officers executed a search warrant at the residence of Augusta Millender and her family, following a victim's report that a suspect had threatened her with a gun. Millender and her family filed a lawsuit alleging violations of their Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment rights, as well as related state law claims. The Supreme Court held that the officers were entitled to qualified immunity, and the judgment was reversed in a 6-3 decision. The Court's decision emphasized the distinction between an official's inferences from a factual record and subjective beliefs, which do not defeat the official's qualified immunity. This case has significant implications for future cases involving qualified immunity and the execution of search warrants.