MONTGOMERY, Ala. — A federal appeals court has breathed new life into the lawsuit of Michael Jennings, a Black pastor arrested while watering his neighbor’s plants in Childersburg, Alabama. The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the officers involved lacked probable cause and are not shielded by qualified immunity, overturning a previous dismissal by a lower court.
In May 2022, Jennings was arrested after a white neighbor reported him to the police while he was tending to his neighbor’s garden. Body camera footage shows Jennings identifying himself as “Pastor Jennings” and explaining that he lived across the street. Despite this, officers detained him for refusing to provide a physical ID, charging him with obstructing government operations—a charge later dropped at the police chief’s request.
The arrest video went viral, sparking national outrage and leading Jennings to file a federal lawsuit in September 2022, asserting that his constitutional rights were violated. In December 2023, a district court dismissed his case, citing qualified immunity for the officers. However, the recent appellate ruling has remanded the case back to the lower court for further proceedings.
Jennings’ legal team argues that Alabama’s law does not require individuals to provide ID unless there is reasonable suspicion of criminal activity, which was not present in this case. The appellate court’s decision could have significant implications for civil rights cases across Alabama.
The Childersburg Police Department has not commented on the ruling. Meanwhile, Jennings hopes his case will prompt changes in local law enforcement practices and prevent similar incidents in the future.