Geofence Warrants and the Fourth Amendment
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on June 29, 2026, that geofence warrants are a search under the Fourth Amendment, requiring constitutional privacy protections. As of June 29, 2026, the 6-3 majority decision affirmed that individuals have a reasonable expectation of privacy in their cell phone's location records, extending the *Carpenter v. United States* ruling. This decision came after oral arguments on April 27, 2026, in the case of *Chatrie v. United States*, which centered on evidence obtained through a geofence warrant for a 2019 Virginia bank robbery conviction. The ruling significantly impacts data privacy standards and law enforcement practices, despite the U.S. government's brief on March 25, 2026, urging the Court to uphold their legality.
Timeline
Want updates on this thread?
Track this storyTimeline of developments
June 2026 — 1 developments
Supreme Court Rules Geofence Warrants Require Constitutional Privacy Protections
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that geofence warrants are a search under the Fourth Amendment, requiring constitutional privacy protections. In a 6-3 majority decision, the Court affirmed that individuals have a reasonable expectation of privacy in their cell phone's location records, extending the Carpenter v. United States ruling.
April 2026 — 1 developments
U.S. Government Urges Supreme Court to Uphold Geofence Warrants
The U.S. government filed a brief on March 25, 2026, urging the Supreme Court to rule that geofence warrants do not violate the Fourth Amendment when location data is voluntarily shared with a third party. Oral arguments are scheduled for April 27, 2026.
March 2026 — 2 developments
DOJ Urges Supreme Court to Uphold Geofence Warrants in Chatrie v. United States
The Department of Justice is urging the Supreme Court to uphold the legality of geofence warrants in the case of Chatrie v. United States. A decision in the case, which centers on evidence obtained through a geofence warrant for a bank robbery conviction, is expected by the end of June 2026. This ruling could significantly impact data privacy standards and law enforcement practices.
ACLU, EFF, Knight Institute, and Liberty Justice Center urge Supreme Court to declare geofence warrants unconstitutional
The American Civil Liberties Union, Electronic Frontier Foundation, Knight First Amendment Institute, and Liberty Justice Center have filed amicus briefs urging the Supreme Court to declare geofence warrants unconstitutional. They argue these warrants function as digital dragnets, violating the Fourth Amendment by compelling companies to disclose location data for all devices within a defined area and time, threatening privacy and First Amendment activities.
February 2026 — 1 developments
Supreme Court Schedules Oral Arguments for Geofence Warrant Case Chatrie v. United States on April 27, 2026
Oral arguments for the Supreme Court case Chatrie v. United States, which concerns the constitutionality of geofence warrants, are scheduled for April 27, 2026. The case, which began with a 2019 Virginia bank robbery investigation, will determine if obtaining location data for all devices within a specified area and time frame violates the Fourth Amendment.
January 2026 — 5 developments
Supreme Court to Build on Carpenter Decision in Chatrie v. United States
The Supreme Court case Chatrie v. United States will build upon the 2018 Carpenter decision regarding geolocation data privacy, with a key legal argument focusing on the 'third-party doctrine'.
Freedom of the Press Foundation Warns Supreme Court Ruling Could Impact Press Freedom
The Freedom of the Press Foundation warned that a Supreme Court ruling against Chatrie could severely impact press freedom by potentially allowing mass surveillance through geofence warrants. FPF Senior Adviser Caitlin Vogus elaborated on the Fourth Amendment implications.
Supreme Court adds Chatrie v. United States to OT 2025 oral argument docket
The case *Chatrie v. United States* has been placed on the Oral Argument Docket for the Supreme Court's OT 2025 term. Specific argument and opinion dates are yet to be determined.
Supreme Court to Review Constitutionality of Geofence Warrants After Fifth Circuit Ruling
The Supreme Court's decision to review the constitutionality of geofence warrants follows a 2024 Fifth Circuit ruling in U.S. v. Smith that found such warrants unconstitutional, comparing them to prohibited general warrants.
Supreme Court to Hear Geofence Warrant Case, Address Fourth Amendment Violation
The Supreme Court granted Chatrie's petition for a writ of certiorari, agreeing to hear the case. The Court will specifically address whether the execution of a geofence warrant violated the Fourth Amendment.
July 2025 — 1 developments
Chatrie files petition for writ of certiorari with Supreme Court
Chatrie filed a petition for a writ of certiorari with the Supreme Court, seeking review of the Fourth Circuit's decision.
April 2025 — 1 developments
Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals affirms panel's ruling in en banc rehearing
The full Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals agreed to rehear the case en banc and, in a one-sentence unsigned opinion, affirmed the three-judge panel's ruling.
April 2024 — 1 developments
Fourth Circuit Affirms No Privacy Expectation in Google Location Data
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed the district court's decision. The court held that Chatrie did not have a reasonable expectation of privacy in the two hours' worth of Location History data voluntarily exposed to Google, and therefore, the government did not conduct a Fourth Amendment search when it obtained this information.
March 2022 — 2 developments
Chatrie Enters Conditional Guilty Plea, Receives 141-Month Sentence
Chatrie entered a conditional guilty plea, reserving his right to appeal the denial of his motion to suppress. He was sentenced to 141 months' imprisonment and three years of supervised release.
District Court Denies Chatrie's Motion to Suppress, Applies Good-Faith Exception
The district court denied Chatrie's motion to suppress. While the court expressed concerns about user privacy and the constitutionality of geofence warrants, it applied the 'good-faith exception' to the exclusionary rule, allowing the evidence to be used.
October 2019 — 1 developments
Chatrie pleads not guilty, files motion to suppress geofence warrant evidence
Chatrie was arraigned and pleaded not guilty. He subsequently filed a motion to suppress the evidence obtained via the geofence warrant, arguing it violated his Fourth Amendment rights.
August 2019 — 1 developments
Okello Chatrie charged with armed robbery based on Google Sensorvault data from geofence warrant
Okello Chatrie was charged with armed robbery in Virginia, based on Google Sensorvault data obtained through a geofence warrant. Police used the warrant after being unable to identify a suspect from security footage and witness interviews. The geofence warrant sought location data for devices present within a specific area around the time of the robbery.