Home > Great American Court Cases > Terry v. Ohio

Legal Citation: 392 U.S. 1 (1968)

Petitioner
Terry

Respondent
State of Ohio

Petitioner's Claim
That the "stop and frisk" actions of police officer Martin McFadden constituted an unreasonable search and seizure.

Chief Lawyer for Petitioner
Louis Stokes

Chief Lawyer for Respondent
Reuben M. Payne

Justices for the Court
Hugo Lafayette Black, William J. Brennan, Jr., Abe Fortas, John Marshall Harlan II, Thurgood Marshall, Potter Stewart, Earl Warren (writing for the Court), Byron R. White

Justices Dissenting
William O. Douglas

Place
Washington, D.C.

Date of Decision
10 June 1968

Decision
A police officer may stop a person and perform a limited weapons patdown if the officer has observed suspicious behavior which would justify making such an examination.