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Florence v. Board of Chosen Freeholders of the County of Burlington

Docket No. Op. Below Argument Opinion Vote Author Term
10-945 3d Cir. Oct 12, 2011 Apr 2, 2012 5-4 Kennedy OT 2011

Disclosure: Goldstein & Russell, P.C. serves as counsel to the petitioner this case.

Holding: Jail strip searches do not require reasonable suspicion, at least so long as the arrestee is being admitted into the general jail population.

Judgment: Affirmed, 5-4, in an opinion by Justice Kennedy on April 2, 2012. The Chief Justice and Justices Scalia and Alito joined the opinion in full, while Justice Thomas joined as to all but Part IV. The Chief Justice and Justice Alito filed concurring opinions. Justice Breyer filed a dissenting opinion, which was joined by Justices Ginsburg, Sotomayor, and Kagan.

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Briefs and Documents

Merits Briefs for the Petitioner

Amicus Briefs in Support of the Petitioner

Merits Briefs for the Respondents

Amicus Briefs in Support of the Respondents

Certiorari-stage documents