Document: 532 U.S. 774121 S.Ct. 1905150 L.Ed.2d 1 NOTICE: This opinion is subject to formal revision before publication in the preliminary print of United States Reports. Readers are requested notify Reporter Decisions, Supreme Court States, Washington, D. C. 20543, any typographical or other errors, order that corrections may be made goes press.FLORIDA, PETITIONERv.ROBERT A. THOMAS No. 00-391. SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES Argued April 25, 2001Decided June 4, 2001 Syllabus While officers were investigating marijuana sales and making arrests at a Florida home, respondent Thomas drove up, parked home's driveway, walked toward back his car. An officer met him there asked name whether he had driver's license. After check Thomas' license revealed an outstanding warrant, arrested him, handcuffed took inside home. The then went outside, alone, searched car, finding several bags containing methamphetamine. was charged with possession drug related offenses. trial court granted motion suppress evidence narcotics narcotic paraphernalia. Second District Appeal reversed, search valid under New York v. Belton, 453 454, which this established "bright-line" rule permitting who has lawful custodial arrest car's occupant passenger compartment as contemporaneous incident arrest. Holding Belton did not apply, but remanded for determine vehicle justified Chimel California, 395 752. certiorari consider whether, State held, Belton's bright-line limited situations where initiates contact vehicle's while person remains vehicle. Held: lacks jurisdiction decide question on granted. Although parties raise issue their briefs merits, must first it case. See Duquesne Light Co. Barasch, 488 299, 306. Title 28 U.S.C. 1257(a) authorizes review "[f]inal judgments ... by highest right specially set up claimed Constitution." In criminal prosecution, finality generally defined judgment conviction imposition sentence. Fort Wayne Books, Inc. Indiana, 489 46, 54. However, certain circumstances, treated state-court final jurisdictional purposes even though further proceedings take place state court. Flynt Ohio, 451 619, 620-621. Cox Broadcasting Corp. Cohn, 420 469, 479-483, divided cases kind into four categories: (1) proceedings, entire trials, yet occur courts, federal conclusive outcome preordained; (2) issue, finally decided State's court, will survive require decision regardless future proceedings; (3) claim been decided, merits courts come, later cannot had, whatever ultimate case; (4) have pending party seeking might prevail nonfederal grounds, thus rendering unnecessary Court, reversal would preclusive litigation relevant cause action rather than merely controlling nature character of, determining admissibility in, still come. Because none those categories fits Court's case, final. Pp. 2-6. Certiorari dismissed want jurisdiction. Reported below: 761 So. 2d 1010. ON WRIT CERTIORARI TO FLORIDA Rehnquist, J., delivered unanimous Court. Opinion Chief Justice Rehnquist 454 (1981), we law enforcement car We 531 1069 (2000). find, however, lack question. 2 On evening present home Polk County, Florida, sale arrests. Respondent Robert residence, Officer J. Maney rear vehicle, warrant arrest, residence. small white substance tested positive 3 methamphetamine 711 1241 (1998), supra. turn holding apply. 4 held "Belton's defendant" defendant 1010, 1014 concluded inapplicable, directed "whether factors [v. 752 (1969),] justify vehicle." 2d, 1014. explained "[b]ased record unable ascertain [the officer's] safety endangered preservation jeopardy," necessary (1969), proceedings. 5 306 (1989). decrees rendered could title, right, privilege, immunity "is sentence." 54 But not, practice, interpreted so strictly. "treated although court." 620-621 (1981) (per curiam). 469 (1975), categories. None therefore conclude its 6 category includes "there proceedings-even trials-yet one reason another preordained." Id., 479. prototypical example Mills Alabama, 384 214 (1966). There Alabama statute prohibited editorial endorsement election day violate First Amendment, case trial. 216-217. conceded only defense charge constitutional claim; admitted publish editorial. "final judgment" jurisdiction, saying "would no more few gestures leading inexorably towards conviction, appeal formally repeat rejection Mills' contentions whereupon once wind weary way us unquestionably appealable. Such roundabout process inexcusable delay benefits Congress intended grant providing also result completely waste time energy judicial systems already troubled delays due congested dockets." 217-218. 7 here differs considerably from Mills. application Chimel, factfinding, invalid Chimel. 8 Cox's second "the State, proceedings." U.S., 480. used our Radio Station WOW, Johnson, 326 120 (1945), illustrate category. said: "In Nebraska transfer properties federally licensed radio station ordered accounting, rejecting interfere license... . Nothing happen course short settlement foreclose make question." Cox, supra, 9 find allows search, longer necessary. noted treat assumption " 'the questions come adjudicated court,' remand 'could remotely give rise here.' 10 Cases case," fall third 481. Quarles, 467 649 (1984), such weapon, suppressed grounds. petition explaining suppression ruling tried. 651. said fell within because "should convict trial, wrongfully moot. Should acquitted precluded pressing again appeal." 651, n. 1. 11 To deny necessarily go without evidence, barred event acquittal mooted conviction. should suppressed; resolved remand. If prevails moot, seek it. if loses, suppressed, appeal, long does prior Fla. Stat. 924.071(1) (1996) ("The pretrial suppressing evidence"); Rule App. Proc. 9.140(c)(1)(B) (2001) obtained seizure"). against At obtain both issue. Jefferson City Tarrant, 522 75, 83 (1997). 12 fourth these refusal immediately seriously erode policy, entertained itself determined litigation." 482-483. 13 Here can serious erosion policy common all run-of-the-mine decisions trials. exception apply here. 14 For foregoing reasons, dismiss writ 15 It ordered.

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