Reference no: EM133395175

Assignment:

4th Amendment Supreme Court Case Analysis

New Jersey v. T.L.O. (1985)

Although the landmark Supreme Court case New Jersey v. T.L.O. was decided in 1985, it still has an impact on every student who brings a purse or backpack to school.

The case involved a high school girl who, because she was a juvenile at the time, was referred to in court and in court records by her initials -- T.L.O. She was accused of smoking in the bathroom. When T.L.O. denied the allegation, a school official searched her purse and found cigarettes and marijuana paraphernalia.

When T.L.O. went to family court in her hometown to claim her Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable search and seizure, the judge ruled against her and declared T.L.O. a delinquent. When she appealed to the New Jersey State Supreme Court, the justices ruled that the school had violated T.L.O.'s Fourth Amendment rights.

The State of New Jersey took the case to the Supreme Court of the United States which ruled that the school's search was reasonable and had not violated T.L.O.'s Fourth Amendment rights. In a 6-3 decision, the Court reasoned that students in primary and secondary school should not be afforded the same level of search and seizure protection as adults and as juveniles in non-school settings.

(Please research this court case for more information)

1.) This court case was tried three different times in three different courts! What were the verdicts at the closing of each court case? Do you agree with the final Supreme Court Case's verdict (decision)? Why or Why Not?

2.) How does this decision still affect students, teachers, and school personnel y today?

3.) Which of T.L.O.'s personal belongings constituted the right for school officials to search her belongings?

Often times, the 4th amendment rights of individuals are neglected. In the recent past, there have been several instances of "unreasonable searches and seizures". Research TWO instances (court cases, etc.) in which an individual's 4th amendment rights were violated. Answer the following questions in regards to BOTH 4th amendment violations.

1.) What were the names of the court cases? When and where did they take place?

2.) How were the individual's 4th amendment rights violated in each case? Or were their 4th amendment rights upheld?

3.) What did the courts rule in each case?

4.) Do you agree or disagree with the rulings of both cases? Why or why not?