Florida v. Jimeno

Florida v. Jimeno, 500 U.S. 248 (1991), was a U.S. Supreme Court case involving the exclusionary rule of evidence under the Fourth Amendment.[1][2]

Florida v. Jimeno
Argued March 25, 1991
Decided May 23, 1991
Full case nameFlorida v. Enio Jimeno
Citations500 U.S. 248 (more)
111 S. Ct. 1801; 114 L. Ed. 2d 297
Holding
Jimeno's consent to the search of the car did extend to the closed paper bag within the car, and did not violate the Fourth Amendment's prohibition of unreasonable searches.
Court membership
Chief Justice
William Rehnquist
Associate Justices
Byron White · Thurgood Marshall
Harry Blackmun · John P. Stevens
Sandra Day O'Connor · Antonin Scalia
Anthony Kennedy · David Souter
Case opinions
MajorityRehnquist, joined by White, Blackmun, O'Connor, Scalia, Kennedy, Souter
DissentMarshall, joined by Stevens
Laws applied
U.S. Const. amend. IV

Background

A police officer pulled over Enio Jimeno for a traffic violation after following him due to information that he may have been involved in a drug deal. Jimeno consented to a search of his car, but nothing more. The officer had informed Jimeno that he suspected him of having drugs in the car.[1][2] The officer opened up a package and found cocaine inside. At trial, Jimeno argued that his consent to search his car did not extend to his permission to search within containers and packages. The lower court and the Florida Supreme Court upheld that Jimeno's consent did not cover the officer's efforts and thus ruled in Jimeno's favor. The State of Florida appealed to the United States Supreme Court.[1][2]

Opinion of the Court

In a 7-2 vote, the Court overturned the lower courts' decision and ruled that the officer's search of containers within the car were not considered unreasonable. Since a reasonable person would expect narcotics to be carried in a container, and because the officer told Jimeno of his suspicions, the Court ruled that the officer acted within reason. Jimeno was thus found guilty and the officer was not in violation of the 4th amendment.[1][2]

Significance

This case grants law enforcement greater ability to conduct searches. It also narrows the definition of unreasonable searches and thus limits the protection citizens can seek against such searches. Evidence cannot be excluded from a case if it is deemed to have been discovered through reasonable means.[1][2]

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References
  1. "FLORIDA v. JIMENO". Oyez. 1991.
  2. Florida v. Jimeno, 500 U.S. 248 (1991).
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