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T.L.O. Case description
A New Jersey high school student was accused of violating school rules by smoking in the bathroom, leading an assistant principal to search her purse for cigarettes. The vice principal discovered marijuana and other items that implicated the student in dealing marijuana. The student tried to have the evidence from her purse suppressed, contending that mere possession of cigarettes was not a violation of school rules; therefore, a desire for evidence of smoking in the restroom did not justify the -
Case Tried in district court
The case is tried in a juvenile court of New Jersey. Her claim that her fourth amendment rights were violated is denied. She is sentenced to one year of probation. -
Case appealed
The case is appealed on the basis that T.L.O. had her rights violated, and that she had been denied her rights as garuanteed by the fourth amendment. -
Case reaches appeallate court of New Jersey
Case is tried in an appeallate court. The court withholds thee decision of the district court, saying her fourth amendment rights were not violated -
Case appealed
The case is appealed to the Supreme court of the state of New Jersey. -
Case heard by Supreme court of New Jersey
The court overturns the ruling, stating that the search had violated T.L.O.'s fourth amendent rights. -
Case appealed to the US Supreme Court
The case is appealed to the supreme court -
Case heard by the Supreme Court of the United States
The case is heard by the supreme court of the United states. They rule that the search does not violate the fourth amendment if it was performed by a school official on the basis of reasonable suspicion. -