Ohio v. Robinette

Ohio v. Robinette
Argued October 8, 1996
Decided November 18, 1996
Full case nameState of Ohio, Petitioner v. Robert D. Robinette
Citations519 U.S. 33 (more)
117 S. Ct. 417; 136 L. Ed. 2d 347; 1996 U.S. LEXIS 6971; 65 U.S.L.W. 4013; 148 A.L.R. Fed. 739; 96 Cal. Daily Op. Service 8278; 96 Daily Journal DAR 13761; 10 Fla. L. Weekly Fed. S 200
Case history
PriorConviction reversed by the Ohio Supreme Court, 653 N.E.2d 695 (Ohio 1995); certiorari granted, 516 U.S. 1157 (1996).
Holding
The Fourth Amendment does not require the police to inform a motorist during a traffic stop that they are "free to go" before asking questions unrelated to the purpose of the stop.
Court membership
Chief Justice
William Rehnquist
Associate Justices
John P. Stevens · Sandra Day O'Connor
Antonin Scalia · Anthony Kennedy
David Souter · Clarence Thomas
Ruth Bader Ginsburg · Stephen Breyer
Case opinions
MajorityRehnquist, joined by O'Connor, Scalia, Kennedy, Souter, Thomas, Breyer
ConcurrenceGinsburg
DissentStevens
Laws applied
U.S. Const. amend. IV

Ohio v. Robinette, 519 U.S. 33 (1996), was a United States Supreme Court case in which the Court held that the Fourth Amendment does not require police officers to inform a motorist at the end of a traffic stop that they are free to go before seeking permission to search the motorist's car.