Supreme Court takes up four new cases, including disputes on geofence warrants and Roundup weedkiller

The Supreme Court has recently added four new cases to its Oral Argument Docket for the 2025-26 term, covering key legal issues such as the Fourth Amendment and federal preemption. This summary outlines the main points regarding these cases.

1. Chatrie v. United States:

• This case involves a challenge to the constitutionality of "geofence warrants," which allow law enforcement to obtain information about cell phone users in a specific location during a specific timeframe.

• The defendant, Okello Chatrie, was convicted of robbery based on evidence obtained via a geofence warrant. He had argued that the warrant violated his Fourth Amendment rights.

• A federal judge acknowledged potential constitutional issues but allowed the evidence to be used under the “good faith” exception. Chatrie pleaded guilty and received a nearly 12-year sentence.

• The Fourth Circuit Court upheld Chatrie’s conviction by ruling that using the geofence warrant did not constitute a "search" under the Fourth Amendment, leading to the case reaching the Supreme Court.

2. Monsanto Company v. Durnell:

• This case involves a lawsuit against Monsanto over its Roundup weedkiller, where the plaintiff contends the company failed to warn him about links to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

• A jury had awarded the plaintiff $1.25 million, and Monsanto argues that federal law should take precedence, therefore dismissing the state-level claim about warnings.

3. Hikma Pharmaceuticals v. Amarin Pharma, Inc.:

• This case addresses a lawsuit against a generic drug manufacturer accused of encouraging patent infringement related to drug production.

4. Anderson v. Intel Corporation Investment Policy Committee:

• This case focuses on the standards for claims regarding the underperformance of a retirement fund, examining fiduciary duties under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

The Supreme Court will address these significant legal disputes in its upcoming sessions, reflecting ongoing issues regarding privacy rights, corporate responsibility, and fiduciary obligations. Further orders will be announced in the coming days, indicating the court's continued engagement with these complex legal topics. 

https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/01/supreme-court-takes-up-four-new-cases-including-disputes-on-geofence-warrants-and-roundup-weedkiller/