THE HOLDING (i.e. DECISION)
The initial lower court ruling from Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court of Middlesex County, N.J found no violation of T.L.O.’s Fourth Amendment. They sentenced T.L.O. to one year of probation.
The second lower court ruling, Appellate Division (New Jersey State Court System), also ruled no violation of T.L.O.’s Fourth Amendment rights.
The third lower court ruling, New Jersey State Supreme Court, confirmed the decisions of the prior rulings. There were no violations of T.L.O.’s Fourth Amendment rights. However, the possession of cigarettes by T.L.O. did not violate any of the school’s rules or policies. Principal Theodore Choplick had no reason to search T.L.O.’s purse. The New Jersey Supreme Court reversed the decision by the prior courts.
The issue brought forth to the U.S. Supreme Court pertained to whether or not evidence seized by a school official, without the involvement of law officials, was permissible in juvenile delinquency hearings. The U.S. Supreme Court never reached this issue because it ruled that the search of T.L.O.’s purse was not in violation of the Fourth Amendment.
V. LEGAL