Supreme Court vacates rulings against Minneapolis police officer accused of blinding man during protests

The U. S. Supreme Court has vacated previous rulings against Minneapolis police officer Benjamin Bauer, who shot Ethan Marks during the unrest following George Floyd's death, sending the case back to the Eighth Circuit for further review. This decision follows a recent unanimous ruling in Barnes v. Felix that alters the framework for assessing excessive force cases, moving away from the "moment-of-threat" rule.

Bauer's legal team claims this is a significant win for law enforcement, while Marks' attorney, Robert Bennett, argues that it merely delays justice. Bennett noted, “We don’t expect a different result,” indicating that the case remains active. In a prior settlement, Minneapolis paid $2. 4 million to another man injured by police during protests, reflecting ongoing scrutiny of police actions during civil unrest. The Supreme Court's directive compels the Eighth Circuit to reevaluate the lawsuit against Bauer, potentially influencing future excessive force cases.

The outcome will hinge on how the court interprets the recent precedent. All parties now await the Eighth Circuit's next steps in this contentious legal battle.