The Locked Patrol Car
Arizona v. Gant (2009)
Charge: Possession of a Narcotic Drug for Sale and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia Heard on GUILTY or NOT?: 16 June 2026
The facts
The Defendant was arrested for driving with a suspended license. The arrest was lawful; officers had confirmed the suspension before stopping him. After the Defendant was handcuffed and locked in the back of a patrol car, officers searched the passenger compartment of his vehicle and found a gun and a jacket containing cocaine in the backseat.
You have the facts the court had. Did the prosecution prove it? Render your verdict in the game, then see what the court actually decided — and why.
Citation: 556 U.S. 332 (2009)
Read the full decision at oyez.org. The source reveals the outcome.