Search of Student’s Off-Campus Vehicle Was Unreasonable Under Fourth Amendment

High school officials could not rely on the Fourth Amendment’s school-search doctrine to justify a warrantless search of a student’s truck that was parked off campus, the Nebraska Supreme Court ruled May 17 (J.P. v. Millard Public Schools, Neb., No. S-11-777).

In an opinion by Justice John F. Wright, the court ruled that the exception is limited to searches occurring on school grounds or at off-campus school events and activities.

Expanding the exception to cover off-campus searches that had an arguable nexus to enforcing good order on school grounds would invite abuse, it said.

Truck Was Parked on ...