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Florida v. Royer Case Brief
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Case Brief Summary & Legal Analysis
tl;dr: Police took a drug courier suspect’s ticket and ID and moved him to a small room for questioning. The Supreme Court found this exceeded a brief investigative stop, becoming an illegal arrest that tainted the suspect’s subsequent consent to a luggage search.
Legal Significance: This case clarifies the limits of investigative detentions under Terry v. Ohio, establishing that a stop’s scope must be minimally intrusive. A detention that becomes tantamount to an arrest requires probable cause, and any consent obtained during such an illegal detention is invalid.
Florida v. Royer Law School Study Guide
Use this case brief structure for your own legal analysis. Focus on the IRAC methodology to excel in law school exams and cold calls.
Case Facts & Court Holding
Key Facts & Case Background
Two plainclothes detectives at Miami International Airport observed Mark Royer, who they believed fit a “drug courier profile.” They approached Royer, identified themselves, and asked to see his airline ticket and driver’s license. The ticket was under the name “Holt,” while the license was under “Royer.” The detectives did not return his documents. They informed Royer they were narcotics investigators and suspected him of transporting drugs, then asked him to accompany them to a nearby room, described as a “large storage closet.” Royer complied. Without his consent, one detective retrieved Royer’s checked luggage and brought it to the room. Inside, the officers asked for consent to search the bags. Royer produced a key for one suitcase, which contained marijuana. He then consented to the officers prying open the second suitcase, which also contained marijuana. Approximately 15 minutes elapsed between the initial encounter and the arrest. The trial court denied Royer’s motion to suppress, but the Florida District Court of Appeal reversed, finding the consent was tainted by an illegal, involuntary confinement.
Court Holding & Legal Precedent
Issue: Does a law enforcement officer’s detention of a suspect exceed the permissible scope of an investigative stop under Terry v. Ohio when the officer, without probable cause, relocates the suspect to a private room, retains his identification and airline ticket, and retrieves his luggage?
(Plurality Opinion) Yes. Royer was being illegally detained when he consented to Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehend
IRAC Legal Analysis
Complete IRAC Analysis for Higher Grades
IRAC (Issue, Rule, Analysis, Conclusion) is the exact format professors want to see in your exam answers. Our exclusive Flash-to-Full briefs combine holding, analysis, and rule statements formatted to match what A+ students produce in exams. These structured briefs help reinforce the essential legal reasoning patterns expected in law school.
Legal Issue
Does a law enforcement officer’s detention of a suspect exceed the permissible scope of an investigative stop under Terry v. Ohio when the officer, without probable cause, relocates the suspect to a private room, retains his identification and airline ticket, and retrieves his luggage?
Conclusion
*Florida v. Royer* is a seminal case that defines the boundary between Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut
Legal Rule
An investigative detention must be temporary, last no longer than necessary to Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nu
Legal Analysis
The plurality opinion, authored by Justice White, reasoned that while the initial Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud e
Flash-to-Full Case Opinions
Flash Summary
- An investigative detention under Terry v. Ohio must be temporary and