Court Opinion

ID: 9756402
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-28 21:27:06.425061+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:28:21.573632
License: Public Domain

Dissenting Opinion by
Wright, P. J.:
I am not in accord with the statement in the majority opinion that a “dormitory room is analogous to an apartment or a hotel room”. This appellant signed a room contract which reads as follows: “I, the undersigned, agree to take the room shown on this contract for my own occupancy for the whole school year, in accordance with the rules of the University, paying for same at the rate shown on this contract, I understand that the University reserves the right of inspection of this room and I hereby grant permission for such inspection in accordance with the regular procedures of the University”.
After procuring a search warrant, the validity of which is not questioned by the majority, a state trooper and a narcotics agent proceeded to the campus and met *439with the Dean of Mbn. The Dean and the two officers then met the head resident of Swartz Hall, and all four proceeded to appellant’s room. One of the four knocked on the door and, when there was no answer, the head resident opened the door with a pass key. Appellant was found on the bed just awakening from sleep. After appellant was advised of his constitutional rights, a search was made which revealed a plastic bag containing marijuana in a desk drawer, an envelope containing marijuana in a closet, some unused marijuana cigarettes in a waste receptacle.
I am of the opinion that a search warrant was not required under the circumstances, and that appellant had no right to regard his room as a place “in which there was a reasonable expectation of freedom from governmental intrusion”. Cf. Mancusi v. DeForte, 392 U. S. 364, 88 S. Ct. 2120. It is my view that this case is controlled by Moore v. Student Affairs Committee of Troy State University, 284 F. Supp. 725, in which no search warrant was obtained. The majority has failed to satisfactorily distinguish this case. I would affirm on the able opinion of President Judge Kalp.
Watkins, J., joins in this dissenting opinion.