United States v. Mendenhall case brief

United States v. Mendenhall case brief summary
446 U.S. 544 (1980)

CASE SYNOPSIS

The United States appealed the judgment from the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, which reversed defendant's conviction for possessing her*in with intent to distribute.

CASE FACTS
Defendant was convicted of possessing her*in with intent to distribute after the district court denied her motion to suppress the introduction of the her*in at trial. The lower appellate court reversed, holding that defendant's consent to the search of her person had not been voluntarily given.

DISCUSSION

• On appeal, the court reversed the judgment of the lower appellate court. 
• The court held that defendant was not seized when she was approached by the federal agents who asked to see her ticket and identification, even though defendant was not expressly told that she was free to decline to cooperate with their inquiry. 
• The court held that a person had been seized within the meaning of the Fourth Amendment only if, in view of all of the circumstances surrounding the incident, a reasonable person would have believed that she was not free to leave. 
• The court held that the totality of the evidence was adequate to support the district court's findings that defendant voluntarily consented to accompany the officers and that defendant consented to the search of her person freely and voluntarily.

CONCLUSION
The court reversed the judgment of the lower appellate court that had reversed defendant's conviction for possession of her*in.

Recommended Supplements for Criminal Procedure Criminal Procedure: Examples & Explanations, Sixth Edition
Emanuel Law Outline: Criminal Procedure