Pennsylvania v. Labron

Summary

The Court held per curiam that the Fourth Amendment permits police to search a readily mobile automobile without a warrant when probable cause exists, without requiring additional exigent circumstances. It concluded that both vehicle searches were constitutional and reversed and remanded both judgments. The Court also held that it had jurisdiction because Labron lacked a clear statement of an adequate and independent state ground and Kilgore expressly rested on the Fourth Amendment. Justice Stevens, joined by Justice Ginsburg, dissented, arguing that Labron rested on independent state constitutional grounds and that review of Kilgore was unwarranted because the same result would almost certainly follow on remand under state law.