Florida v. Jimeno
United States Supreme Court
500 U.S. 248 (1991)
- Written by Rich Walter, JD
Facts
A Florida police officer stopped a car driven by Enio Jimeno (defendant) after Jimeno ran a red light. The officer suspected Jimeno of transporting illegal drugs and asked Jimeno for permission to search the car for drugs. Jimeno consented. Next to passenger Luz Jimeno's (defendant) seat, the officer found a closed paper bag, the contents of which were not visible. The officer opened the bag and found drugs inside. Florida (plaintiff) prosecuted the couple on drug charges. The trial court ruled the drugs found in the bag were inadmissible evidence because Jimeno's consent did not extend to the officer's search of the closed bag. The state appealed, and both the Florida District Court of Appeal and the Florida Supreme Court affirmed the trial judge's ruling. The latter court based its decision on a Florida case in which, despite the suspect's general consent to a search of his car, it was held unreasonable for an officer to pry open a locked briefcase found in the car's trunk without the suspect's specific permission to do so. The state petitioned the United States Supreme Court, which granted certiorari.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Rehnquist, C.J.)
Dissent (Marshall, J.)
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