The supreme court, of the corporate United states, hands down United states v. Sokolow, reversing the decision of the ninth circuit court of appeals, which vacated the cocaine trafficking conviction of Andrew Sokolow, who had been arrested by the Drug Enforcement Administration, because he fit the agency’s profile of a drug courier.

       Thurgood Marshall, associate justice, files a dissenting opinion pointing the vague standards the Federal courts have accepted in DEA profiling:

       Compare, United states v. Moore (suspect was first to deplane), with United states v. Mendenhall, (last to deplane), with United states v. Buenaventura-Ariza, (deplaned in the middle); United states v. Sullivan, (one-way tickets), with United states v. Craemer, (round-trip tickets), with United states v. McCaleb, (nonstop flight), with United states v. Sokolow, (changed planes); Craemer, (no luggage), with United states v. Sanford, (gym bag), with Sullivan, supra, at 12 (new suitcases); United states v. Smith, (traveling alone), with United states v. Fry, (traveling with companion); United states v. Andrews, (acted nervously), Brooks v. United states, with United states v. Himmelwright, (acted too calmly).

       [restored 1/22/2023]