Background

In January 15, 1985 two girls were caught smoking in a school bathroom. The teacher that had caught them smoking took the to the principle. One of the girls confessed to smoking and the other girl known as T.L.O denied she had been smoking. The principle demanded to look through the girls purse. The principle found Marijuana in the girls purse. The principle took the girl to the police station where she confessed to selling Marijuana. The girl was taken to the Juvenile Court. It was the school vs T.L.O.. At the court T.L.O said that the school had invaded her privacy and broken the fourth amendment. The court sided with the school but the girl appealed and took it to the supreme court where she won the case.

How this affected society

The case had an impact on any student that carried a backpack or purse. This case showed that a school could not invade someone's privacy. This should that minors or people under 18 years old have the same rights as adults. This case also clashed marijuana with the state laws.

What the court decided

The court decided No decision. In an anonymous opinion, the Supreme Court restored the case to the calendar for re argument. In addition to the previously argued question, the Court requested that the parties brief and argue the additional question of whether the assistant principal violated the Fourth Amendment in opening T.L.O's purse.

Justice John Paul Stevens wrote a dissent, stressing that New Jersey chose not to include the Fourth Amendment question in their petition. Justice Stevens felt that it is not the role of the Supreme Court to offer guidance on questions the parties did put at issue.

Works Cited

Lander, Jerry. Background. uscourts. United state courts, 15 July 2008. Web. 24 Mar. 2016. <http://www.uscourts.gov/about-federal-courts/educational-resources/supreme-court-landmarks/new-jersey-v-tlo-podcast>.

- - -. New Jersey v. T.L.O. uscourts. United states courts, 14 July 2008. Web. 24 Mar. 2016. <http://www.uscourts.gov/educational-resources/educational-activities/new-jersey-v-tlo>.