Case Citation: New Jersey v. T.L.O., 1985

Parties: The state of New Jersey, Plaintiffs/Appellants T.L.O., Defendant/Appellee

Facts: A 14 years old female student identified as T.L.O was caught smoking in the school bathroom. During the investigation at school, the schools principal asked to see her purse and found incriminating evidence. That evidence was used against her in juvenile court to find her guilty of delinquency.

Procedural History: T.L.O appealed the juvenile courts decision and the New Jersey Appellate Court affirmed that the evidence was legal and thus admissible. She appealed again, and the New Jersey Supreme Court reversed, saying the search was unreasonable and the evidence must be suppressed. The state of New Jersey then asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review the case.

Issue 1: Does a search of a student by a school official while on the school’s premises violate the students 4th amendment?

Issue 2: Does the school official need a warrant to search student belongings while on the premises?

Holdings:

Issue 1: No. A search of a student by a school official while on the schools premises does not violate the students 4th amendment.

Issue 2: No. The school official does not need a warrant to search student belongings while on the premises.

Reasoning: Appellants advanced the following theories in support of their decision

Issue 1: Students do have 4th Amendment rights at school, but they are balanced with the schools responsibility to maintain a safe and educational environment.

Issue 2: School officials do not need to have probable cause or obtain a search warrant. Reasonable suspicion is a lower standard that the probable cause required for police searches of the public at large.

Decision: The U.S. Supreme court reversed the New Jersey Supreme Court, holding that school officials can search a student if