By FOX23 News
TULSA, Okla. — The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear former Tulsa Police Officer Betty Jo Shelby’s appeal in the case of Shelby v. Manning, leaving a March 2026 ruling in place.
The appeal denied on Monday maintains the March 2026 U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit ruling that denied Shelby qualified for immunity.
This ruling allows for the lawsuit filed by the estate of Terence Crutcher, Sr. to move forward.
“We are thrilled by the decision; we think it’s a victory for civil rights and police accountability,” said Karin Portlock, an attorney representing the Crutcher estate. “It’s reiterating the fundamental principles of the Fourth Amendment and the circumstances that require officers to be held accountable.”
On September 16, 2016, Terence Crutcher was shot and killed by Former Officer Shelby. Shelby shot Crutcher at the same time as another officer who used a taser.
Previously, a federal district court had granted summary judgement for Shelby. However, that decision was reversed in March of this year.
The court found that Shelby “provided too little justification” for using deadly force, per another review of the evidence.
“For ten years, our family has asked for one thing: accountability,” said Dr. Tiffany Crutcher, twin sister of Terence and founder of the Terence Crutcher Foundation. “Today, the highest court in the land let stand a ruling that says Terence’s life mattered. This is not the end, but it is a door that has finally opened. We will walk through it for Terence and for every family still waiting for justice.”
The case will return to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma on February 8, 2027.
