Supreme Court Goes to the Dogs

Yesterday's arguments in two cases from Florida were devoted to man's best friend, or more specifically his nose. At issue, does the use of drug-sniffing dogs sometimes violate the fourth Amendment's right "against unreasonable searches and seizures", or, as the State of Florida argues, are dogs 1. never intrusive, and 2. always reliable?

In the first case, Franky, a chocolate Labrador, was brought without a warrant to the porch of Joelis Jardines where he sniffed marijuana by the front door.

In the second case a German Shepherd named Aldo smelled methamphetamine on a truck driven by Clayton Harris. No privacy issue here, but Aldo's certification had expired.

Jesse Holland has the story here.