Story perspectives

Supreme Court to Decide Fate of Geofence Warrants

1/17/2026

Summary

Story summary

The Supreme Court will hear Chatrie v. United States, challenging the constitutionality of geofence warrants that let law enforcement access location data from devices near crime scenes.
Okello T. Chatrie, convicted of a 2019 bank robbery in Virginia, argues the warrants violate the Fourth Amendment against unreasonable searches.
A decision is anticipated by late June or early July 2026, and the case could redefine technology use in law enforcement.

History

Historical Context

The California Supreme Court's 2018 ruling in Chime v. California reinforced the Fourth Amendment's requirement for warrants to access digital data, building on the precedent set by Riley v. California (2014). This upcoming Supreme Court case, Chatrie v. United States, will further examine the constitutionality of geofence warrants, potentially reshaping digital privacy rights and law enforcement practices in the U.S.

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Story summary

The Supreme Court will hear Chatrie v. United States, challenging the constitutionality of geofence warrants that let law enforcement access location data from devices near crime scenes.
Okello T. Chatrie, convicted of a 2019 bank robbery in Virginia, argues the warrants violate the Fourth Amendment against unreasonable searches.
A decision is anticipated by late June or early July 2026, and the case could redefine technology use in law enforcement.

1 / 2