Please rewrite. Humanized writing. AI generated should be lower to 10%.

Title Slide

Title: Graham v. Connor (1989): Use of Force and the Fourth Amendment Subtitle: Analyzing Police Conduct Under Constitutional Law Your Name Course Name & Date

Slide 1: Introduction to the Civil Liberty Title: Civil Liberty in Focus: The Fourth Amendment

Protects citizens against unreasonable searches and seizures

Key issue: What constitutes "reasonable" use of force by law enforcement?

Applicable in stop-and-frisk, arrest, or detention cases

Speaker Notes: This presentation explores how the Fourth Amendment relates to the use of force by law enforcement. The case Graham v. Connor redefined how we evaluate police actions.

Graphic: Image of the Fourth Amendment in the U.S. Constitution with law enforcement imagery overlay

Slide 2: Case Background Title: Case History: What Happened to Dethorne Graham?

Date: November 1984

Graham, a diabetic, rushed into a convenience store and out quickly

Officer Connor followed and detained him

Despite pleas about his condition, Graham was injured during the stop

Speaker Notes: The incident began when Graham, suffering from a diabetic episode, was perceived as suspicious. This led to excessive force by police despite no criminal behavior.

Graphic: Timeline illustration with key events: store visit, stop, injury, lawsuit

Slide 3: Legal Question Before the Court Title: What Was the Legal Issue?

Does the use of force by law enforcement violate the Fourth Amendment?

Should an officer's intent or the objective facts determine constitutionality?

Speaker Notes: The Court needed to decide whether excessive force should be judged based on the officer's subjective intent or an objective standard.

Graphic: Split image graphic of "Subjective Intent" vs "Objective Standard" with police imagery

Slide 4: Supreme Court Ruling Title: The Ruling: Objective Reasonableness Standard

Unanimous 9-0 decision

The Court ruled force must be evaluated based on "objective reasonableness" under the Fourth Amendment

Officer's intent does not matter

Speaker Notes: Chief Justice Rehnquist wrote that all force cases must be judged by what a reasonable officer would do in that moment, not on hindsight.

Graphic: Supreme Court gavel with a 9-0 vote badge and the term "Objective Reasonableness" in bold

Slide 5: Agreement with the Ruling Title: Do I Agree With the Court? Yes.

Provides clear standard for evaluating police conduct

Reduces subjectivity in civil rights claims

Still allows accountability when force is truly excessive

Speaker Notes: This ruling strikes a necessary balance between officer safety and citizen protection. It limits arbitrary rulings by focusing on context.

Graphic: Green checkmark icon with text bubble: "I support the ruling" overlaid on a courthouse

Slide 6: Effects of the Ruling (Part 1) Title: Impact on Law Enforcement and Civil Rights Cases

Became the standard in use-of-force training nationwide

Increased difficulty in proving misconduct

Cited in hundreds of lower court rulings

Speaker Notes: Graham v. Connor is cited in virtually all police use-of-force cases. It shifted how civil rights lawsuits against police are evaluated.

Graphic: Vertical bar chart of yearly Graham v. Connor citations (1989-2023)

Slide 7: Effects of the Ruling (Part 2) Title: Public and Institutional Reaction

Mixed public response

ACLU and civil rights groups say it shields bad officers

Police unions support it for protecting split-second decisions

Speaker Notes: While the ruling provides clarity, critics argue it often protects officers at the expense of accountability.

Graphic: Pie chart showing breakdown: 40% support, 35% concern, 25% unsure (sampled)

Slide 8: Would I Change the Ruling? Title: Should the Ruling Be Amended? Slightly.

Keep objective standard but add clearer guidelines on proportionality and accountability

Consider new standards in light of police body cam data

Speaker Notes: With evolving technology, we can now assess force with real-time video. It may be time to define clearer thresholds of what counts as "reasonable."

Graphic: Image of balanced scales: one side labeled "Officer Viewpoint," the other "Civilian Rights"

Slide 9: Data Supporting Revision Title: Supporting Change with Data

According to Mapping Police Violence (2023): Over 1,000 people killed by police yearly in the U.S.

Less than 2% of officers are charged in those cases

Speaker Notes: These statistics suggest the bar for misconduct remains too high. Modifying the standard with data transparency could aid justice.

Graphic: Line chart showing U.S. police-involved fatalities (2014-2023)

Slide 10: Conclusion Title: Summary and Reflection

Graham v. Connor redefined use-of-force analysis

Ruling brought clarity but also challenges for reform

Continued dialogue and data can strengthen this civil liberty

Speaker Notes: This case remains a cornerstone of constitutional policing. While I agree with the decision, future refinements may be necessary.

Graphic: Collage of police badge, U.S. flag, courthouse with word cloud "Accountability," "Reasonableness," "Justice"