Monroe IINew Jersey Vs. T.L.O.Facts of the CaseOn March 7, 1985 T.L.O. and another student were found smoking in the womans bathroom. They were then taken to see the Assistant Principal, Mr. Choplick, and were questioned about smokingin the bathroom. Upon further questioning the second student told Mr. Choplick she was smokingT.L.O. denied she was smoking and also claimed I dont smoke at all. Mr. Choplick then asked ifhe could search the purse and T.L.O. complied. Upon first opening the purse a pack of cigarettes wasfound and under it was a pack of rolling papers. In Mr. Choplicks experience rolling papers are aprerequisite of marijuana use. Upon further inspection he found a pipe, plastic bags commonly referredto as dime bags, marijuana, a large sum of money, and notes implicating T.L.O. in marijuana dealing. Mr. Choplick then informed T.L.O.s mother and the police of the offense and then sent in theevidence to the police. While in police custody T.L.O. confessed to marijuana dealing. She wascharged with delinquency. In court T.L.O tried to suppress the evidence by deeming the evidenceinadmissible because of her 4th amendment rights being disrupted and the confession inadmissiblebecause of her 5th amendment rights being violated in conjunction with evidence found. She was foundguilty and then it was overturned by the New Jersey Supreme Court.Parts of the ConstitutionIV amendmentV amendmentXIV amendmentPrecedentsHudson Vs. PalmerBrown Vs. Board of EducationSouth Dakota Vs. OppermanArgumentsIn trying to accomplish the feat of a safe school environment you have to give up some personalfreedoms. This trial is not about her smoking but about the marijuana found while the purse wassearched for cigarettes. The search of the purse was reasonable because of the suspicion of hersmoking in the bathroom. During that search cigarettes were found along with wrapping papers forcigarettes or marijuana as mostly used by teenagers. Upon...
