4th Amendment Cases by Angelina Kajtazi Mota

Riley vs California

2024-05-15 14:35:19 UTC

Riley was a member of a gang that was involved in a shooting a couple days prior, the cops pulled him over not knowing about the shooting. His license had expired so the cops by law had to search his car, they found two guns and later searched his phone and discovered that he was part of the shooting.

Was the evidence admitted at trial from Riley's cell phone discovered through a search that violated his Fourth Amendment right to be free from unreasonable searches?

The scouts rule was unanimous 9-0 in favor of the prior courts that said his 4th amendment rights were not broken.

His rights were limited.

Vernonia School District vs Acton (1995)

kaj514338 — 2024-05-15 14:39:36 UTC

Summary:

Athletes attending Vernonia High School were investigated and caught using drugs. Consequently, the school made the "Student Athlete Drug Policy" which enforces random urinary tests on athletes. James Acton (and his parents) refused to comply with the new policy.

Question:

Does random drug testing of high school athletes violate the reasonable search and seizure clause of the Fourth Amendment?

SCOTUS Ruling:

6-3 in favor of Vernonia High School

Protected or Limited Rights?

The rights of the students were limited.

Terry v.s Ohio (1968)

gai514326 — 2024-05-15 14:39:37 UTC

Summary: Terry and two other men were observed by a plain clothes policeman. The officer stopped and frisked the three men, and found weapons on two of them. Terry was convicted of carrying a concealed weapon and sentenced to three years in jail.

Question: Was the search and seizure of Terry and the other men in violation of the Fourth Amendment?

Conclusion: 8-1 decision, the search was undertaken by the officer was reasonable under the fourth amendment and that the weapons seized could be introduced into evidence against Terry.

Terry right were limited

Safford Unified school district vs Redding

2024-05-15 14:45:53 UTC

Eighth grader was stripped searched by school official

Constitutional question Does the Fourth Amendment prohibit school officials from strip searching students suspected of possessing drugs in violation of school policy?

Scouts ruled The Supreme Court held that Savanna's Fourth Amendment rights were violated when school officials searched her underwear for non-prescription painkillers.

Rights of the student were protected.

Dollree Mapp 1923-2014 "The Rosa Parks of the fourth amendment"

2024-05-16 13:30:25 UTC

It relates to the fourth amendment because it changed policing and required state courts to throw out evidence if it had been seized illegally

Idaho vs Dorff (2023)

kaj514338 — 2024-05-16 13:31:36 UTC

Summary:

Nero the police dog put his paws on a car that had been pulled over for swerving across three lanes. The dog did his job and sniffed out a pill bottle and bag with meth residue. That gave the police the ability to obtain a warrant and arrest the man Kirby Dorff for felony drug possession

Question:

Do the dog's paws touching the car violate the Fourth Amendment's prohibition on unreasonable searches?

SCOTUS Ruling:

3-2 Idaho Supreme court ruling.. decided that the police dog can sniff the air around the car, but can't touch the car while trying to sniff inside

Protected or Limited Rights?

Dorff's rights were protected

Supreme Court Rules for Police Officer in Excessive Force Case

2024-05-16 13:31:53 UTC

A police officer shot an innocent civilian. When the woman tried to sue, the courts agreed with the police officer. This is concerning because "transforms the doctrine into an absolute shield for law enforcement officers."