Chief Justice of the Sports Metaphor

In Brigham City v. Stuart, released earlier this week, the Supreme Court held that police officers may enter a home without a warrant if they have an objective basis to believe an occupant is seriously injured or imminently threatened with such injury. Writing for the majority, Chief Justice Roberts explained, "The role of a peace officer includes preventing violence and restoring order, not simply rendering first aid to casualties; an officer is not like a boxing (or hockey) referee, poised to stop a bout only if it becomes too one-sided.”

Apparently, we can expect many more sports metaphors from Chief Justice Roberts, the man who gave us "Judges are like umpires. Umpires don't make the rules; they apply them. The role of an umpire and a judge is critical. They make sure everybody plays by the rules. But it is a limited role. Nobody ever went to a ball game to see the umpire."

Hat tip to the Journal's Law Blog.

Posted in: