United States v. Cano

A plain-English summary from Criminal Defense Resources™, a free resource for pro per/pro se defendants and their families.

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Court: U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Decided: August 16, 2019
Citation: 934 F.3d 1002 (9th Cir. 2019)
Topics: Search & Seizure (Fourth Amendment)

What did the court decide?

The Ninth Circuit held that at the border, officers may do a manual search of a cell phone without suspicion, but a forensic (device-copying) search requires reasonable suspicion. It also held that border phone searches are limited to looking for digital contraband.

Why does it matter?

An important Ninth Circuit ruling on phone searches at the border.

Where can I read the full opinion?

Read the full opinion on CourtListener →

Always read the full opinion and check whether later cases have limited or changed it. A summary can leave out important details.

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Carpenter v. United States (U.S. Supreme Court, 2018)

General educational information, not legal advice. Not a law firm.