No. 24-7465

Nikky Nicole Lujan v. United States

Lower Court: Fifth Circuit
Docketed: 2025-06-18
Status: Denied
Type: IFP
Response WaivedIFP
Tags: fourth-amendment investigative-detention law-enforcement-questioning probable-cause reasonable-suspicion traffic-stop
Key Terms:
CriminalProcedure Privacy
Latest Conference: 2025-09-29
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether reasonable suspicion exists when an officer relies on a driver's allegedly suspicious answer to an itinerary question without further inquiry, despite an objectively reconcilable explanation

Question Presented (from Petition)

In Rodrig uez v. United S tates, 575 U.S. 348, 354 (2015) , this Court held that an officer needs reasonable suspicion to prolong a traffic stop beyond its mission . As part of the mission of a traffic stop , an officer may ask a driver about the purpose of their travel , and suspicious answers might contribute to rea sonable suspicion. The issue here is whether reasonable suspicion existed when a primary factor relied on by the government was the Petitioner ’s allegedly suspicious answer to a question about her itinerary, but the explanation was objectively reconcilable with police surveillance and the questioning officer failed to i nquire further .

Docket Entries

2025-10-06
Petition DENIED.
2025-07-10
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 9/29/2025.
2025-07-08
Waiver of United States of right to respond submitted.
2025-07-08
Waiver of right of respondent United States to respond filed.
2025-06-11
Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due July 18, 2025)

Attorneys

Nikky Lujan
John Dennis HesterHester Law, Petitioner
John Dennis HesterHester Law, Petitioner
United States
D. John SauerSolicitor General, Respondent
D. John SauerSolicitor General, Respondent
Moez Mansoor KabaHueston Hennigan LLP, Respondent