The case of New Jersey vs. TLO was appealed to the Supreme Court of the United States in 1984. Events that led up to the case being brought up to the Supreme Court began at Piscataway High School in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. Two female freshmen attending the school were caught smoking cigarettes in the bathroom by a teacher. They were later interrogated by the assistant vice-principal (Theodore Choplick) at the school. One of the two girls had admitted to smoking while the other, known as TLO, had denied the accusations of her smoking. Choplick had not believed this girl at all, and later began to search her purse and belongings. Cigarettes, marijuana, and other drug-related paraphernalia were found. TLO had finally confessed when they took her to the police station. However, TLO didn’t go down without a fight. She argued that the search of her purse went against her rights stated in the Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution.Because of this, the case was later appealed to the United States Supreme Court. In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court decided that the search and seizure by school officials without a warrant was constitutional as long as it was justifiable. When the assistant vice-principal was searching the purse, it was believed to be upon probable cause. Probable cause is “a reasonable belief that a crime has been committed.” So, the court decided that the search was reasonable because under the circumstances of that situation, reason to suppose TLO had drugs was justifiable.

I agree with the decision of the United States Supreme Court because everything was justifiable. When the other girl had already admitted to smoking, suspicion had arose with TLO and how she denied the accusations. Having the fact that suspicion led to the search and seizure, it was later proven justifiable with drug paraphernalia found in her purse and because of probable cause.