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The Supreme Court agreed yesterday to consider whether local governments can be sued for failing to enforce restraining orders, a case that could open the door to thousands of lawsuits. At issue is whether the Constitution's 14th Amendment obligates police to protect residents from violence when a local government issues a restraining order and promises its enforcement. Jessica Gonzales of Castle Rock, Colo., obtained a restraining order to keep her estranged husband away from her three daughters, ages 10, 9 and 7. She contends police ignored multiple phone calls for help when Simon Gonzales took the daughters from the front yard of her home one night in 1999. Eight hours later, Simon Gonzales showed up at the Castle Rock police station and started a gunfight with officers. He was killed; the girls were found dead in his pickup truck. Jessica Gonzales sued the city for $30 million, alleging a due-process violation because Castle Rock did not enforce the restraining order. The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed, noting that Castle Rock had a duty under state law to respond to her calls but instead routinely ignored her.[more]