State of New Jersey, Plaintiff v. Ramon Suazo, Defendant; State of New Jersey, Plaintiff-Respondent, v. Nelson…

Summary

The Supreme Court of New Jersey reversed the Appellate Division and remanded for retrial, holding that a warrantless search of a passenger's bag in a vehicle based solely on the driver’s consent was unreasonable where the passenger asserted ownership. The Court emphasized that officers must obtain consent from the true owner or have an objectively reasonable basis to believe the driver had authority over the specific container. Justice Garibaldi dissented, arguing the officer’s reliance on the driver’s consent was objectively reasonable.