Home > Great American Court Cases > New York v. Belton

Legal Citation: 453 U.S. 454 (1981)

Petitioner
State of New York

Respondent
Roger Belton

Petitioner's Claim
During a lawful arrest of persons riding in an automobile, it is constitutional for the arresting police officer to conduct a warrantless search of the passenger compartment of the arrested person's vehicle and any containers contained therein, and it is constitutional for the arresting officer to search, without a warrant, through an arrestee's jacket.

Chief Lawyer for Petitioner
James R. Harvey

Chief Lawyer for Respondent
Paul J. Cambria, Jr.

Justices for the Court
Harry A. Blackmun, Warren E. Burger, Lewis F. Powell, Jr., William H. Rehnquist, John Paul Stevens, Potter Stewart (writing for the Court)

Justices Dissenting
William J. Brennan, Jr., Thurgood Marshall, Byron R. White