No. 25-6057

Katrina Lawson v. United States

Lower Court: Eleventh Circuit
Docketed: 2025-11-06
Status: Denied
Type: IFP
Response WaivedIFP
Tags: cell-phone-seizure exigent-circumstances fourth-amendment search-warrant unreasonable-search warrantless-search
Key Terms:
FourthAmendment CriminalProcedure Privacy
Latest Conference: 2025-12-12
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether a warrantless seizure of a cell phone from a private closet during a lawful arrest, without either a warrant or the owner's consent absent exigent circumstances, followed by a prolonged delay before obtaining a search warrant to search the device, complies with the Fourth Amendment rights against unreasonable searches and seizures?

Question Presented (OCR Extract)

1. Whether the i warrantless seizure of a cell phone from a private closet during a lawful arrest, without either a warrant, or the owner's consent absent exigent circumstances, followed by a prolonged delay before obtaining a search warrant to search the device, complies with the Fourth Amendment rights against unreasonable searches and seizures? 2. Whether a 12-day delay obtaining a search warrant for a cell phone seized as incident to an arrest is unreasonable under the Fourth Amendment, where the government only offered ministerial and administrative explanations to justify the delay?

Docket Entries

2025-12-15
Petition DENIED.
2025-11-26
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 12/12/2025.
2025-11-18
Waiver of United States of right to respond submitted.
2025-11-18
Waiver of right of respondent United States to respond filed.
2025-09-18
Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due December 8, 2025)

Attorneys

Katrina Lawson
Katrina Lawson — Petitioner
Katrina Lawson — Petitioner
United States
D. John SauerSolicitor General, Respondent
D. John SauerSolicitor General, Respondent