**Supreme Court Allows Excessive Force Claim to Proceed in Police Shooting Case**

WASHINGTON - In a notable decision on Thursday, the Supreme Court has granted the mother of a Black man who was fatally shot after a routine traffic stop in Houston the ability to proceed with her excessive force claim against the officer involved. The justices unanimously criticized a lower court's decision for only considering the moment the force was used, instead of the events leading up to it.

Justice Elena Kagan authored the opinion for the court, stating, "To assess whether an officer acted reasonably in using force, a court must consider all the relevant circumstances, including facts and events leading up to the climactic moment." This ruling permits Janice Hughes, the mother of the deceased, to continue her civil rights lawsuit alleging the officer, named Felix, used excessive force, thereby violating the Fourth Amendment.

Adam Fomby, representing Hughes' legal team, expressed satisfaction, saying the team was "deeply gratified by the Supreme Court's decision." He added that the ruling "reinforces the fundamental principle that constitutional accountability applies to law enforcement." Attorneys for Felix have not yet commented on the decision.

The Court's ruling overturns the "moment of the threat doctrine," directing courts nationwide to consider the totality of circumstances in future use-of-force cases. Justice Kagan emphasized that "a court deciding a use-of-force case cannot review the totality of the circumstances if it has put on chronological blinders."

Despite the unanimous ruling, Justice Brett Kavanaugh, joined by three other justices, wrote a concurring opinion highlighting the perilous, split-second judgments that officers must make during traffic stops. He stressed the need to account for the significant risks police officers and the community face.

Although Hughes' lawsuit will proceed, she faces significant challenges ahead. The case must still navigate the hurdles of lower court proceedings, and Felix could still invoke qualified immunity, a defense protecting officers if their actions were not "clearly established" as unlawful at the time of the incident.

In an earlier interview with NBC News, Hughes emphasized her motivation, seeking to shed light on her son's victimization. Her statements come five years after the death of George Floyd, reflecting ongoing concerns about police accountability.

Previously, both a district court judge and a judge from the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had criticized the moment of threat doctrine. Though lower courts initially ruled against Hughes, they acknowledged the limitations imposed by the doctrine and advocated for its repeal.

Separately, Hughes has also filed a claim against the police department, though this issue was not before the Supreme Court.