Critically Acclaimed Supreme Court Cases Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Critically Acclaimed Supreme Court Cases - Essay Example One of the most critically acclaimed Supreme Court cases, that supported the rights of citizens against unwarranted searches, a right is given to citizens by the 14th Amendment. This issue initiated as a New Jersey student was found smoking in the bathroom. When caught, the student refrained from confessing and then her locker was unlawfully searched and arrested by the principle. Yet, the student’s 4th Amendment rights were exploited. The question remained, do students have the same 4th Amendment rights as other citizens? Does the school, a government institute has to follow the idea of â€Å"reasonable and probable cause†? The school administrators insisted that the students violated the school code and have extensive power to discipline the conduct of any student who breaches the code. The defense side of T.L.O argued that administrators cannot act as parents and our employees. Hence, they cannot breach the privacy and must respect students’ rights. In a heate d debate, the court favored the student by stating that schools must be obligated to follow the 4th amendment and are limited by the Constitution. Yet, the rights of young students are not the same as adults. The school can initiate searches but must have solid evidence to rationalize their cause. This is critical as many students are not susceptible to random locker checks as it would violate their rights. It protects the students of their privacy, but at the same time gives them some leeway to engage in illegal activity.