Louisiana v. Martin

The issue before the Supreme Court on appeal was whether the Defendant Terrance Martin was "seized" when a police officer asked for his identification in order to check for outstanding warrants, then asked Defendant if he had anything illegal on his person while retaining the identification. Upon review of "the scant facts presented here," the Supreme Court found that there was nothing in the conduct of the officer which "decisively changed the consensual nature" of the officer's encounter with Defendant such that the Fourth Amendment protections were violated. Accordingly, the Court found that the district court did not abuse its discretion in denying Defendant's motion to suppress the drugs which he admitted having on his person.