Great American Court Cases | Delaware v. Prouse

Legal Citation: 440 U.S. 648 (1979)

Petitioner
State of Delaware

Respondent
William J. Prouse III

Petitioner's Claim
Random vehicle stops by state patrolmen are justified by a compelling state interest to promote traffic safety.

Chief Lawyer for Petitioner
Charles M. Oberly III

Chief Lawyer for Respondent
David M. Lukoff

Justices for the Court
Harry A. Blackmun, William J. Brennan, Jr., Warren E. Burger, Thurgood Marshall, Lewis F. Powell, Jr., John Paul Stevens, Potter Stewart, Byron R. White (writing for the Court)

Justices Dissenting
William H. Rehnquist

Place
Washington, D.C.

Date of Decision
27 March 1979

Decision
The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the decision of the Delaware Supreme Court—that it was unconstitutional for state police to randomly stop...