Skinner v. Railway Labor Executives' Association (1988)
- Docket
- 87-1555
- Decided
- 1988-01-01
Summary
Question: Did the regulations violate the Fourth Amendment? Conclusion: No. The Court held that the government's interest in assuring safety on the nation's railroads constituted a "special need" which justified a departure from standard warrant and probable-cause requirements in searches. Preventing accidents, the goal of most railroad regulations including the one in this case, argued Justice Kennedy, was such a significant concern that it warranted reduced "expectations of privacy" for railroad employees.