Delaware v. Prouse

440 U.S. 648 (1979)

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Delaware v. Prouse

United States Supreme Court
440 U.S. 648 (1979)

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Facts

A police officer stopped Prouse's (defendant) car to check Prouse's driver license and car registration. No policy or systematic roadblock required the officer to make the stop. Approaching the car, the officer smelled marijuana, saw marijuana in plain view, and seized it. Delaware (plaintiff) prosecuted Prouse for possessing illegal drugs. The trial court granted Prouse's motion to suppress the seized marijuana. The state appealed to the Delaware Supreme Court, which affirmed the trial court's ruling on Fourth Amendment grounds. The United States Supreme Court granted Delaware's petition for certiorari.

Rule of Law

Issue

Holding and Reasoning (White, J.)

Concurrence (Blackmun, J.)

Dissent (Rehnquist, J.)

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