The issue focused on the court's legal authority to hold police officers accountable for civil rights violations, and called on it to take a more active role in federal criminal justice policy.

"It is time to set aside our political differences and work together to build a national movement of law enforcement leaders who are willing to make real change," said Justice Department attorney James P. O'Neill, who led the lawsuit. "We will not allow our laws to be used as a political football by law enforcement officials to target