United States v. Cortez
United States v. Cortez
Opinion of the Court
OPINION AND ORDER
Defendant, Irma Angelica Casanova, moves to suppress the fruits of a border search. To the extent that there is any conflict in the evidence (there is very little), the court believes the testimony of the officers, not the defendant. The facts are these:
Defendant Casanova drove a car across the Mexican border on the 9th of September, 1967, with one Pete Cordova Cortez riding as a passenger. When the car was stopped for border inspection Customs officer Geiger noticed that the defendant Casanova was extremely nervous, and that the arms of the male passenger bore scars of the type found on the bodies of narcotics addicts. Officer Geiger took the car and its occupants to the secondary area. There he discovered that Cortez had been convicted of an offense involving marihuana but had not registered when he entered Mexico.
In Henderson v. United States, 390 F.2d 805 (9 Cir. July 7, 1967), the court held that what was required of the defendant here is unlawful in the absence of “clear indication” — “plain suggestion” of the presence of narcotics. While I think that the facts supporting the search are stronger here than were the facts in Henderson. I have trouble applying the “clear indication” — “plain suggestion” test. Even so, I find that the search here was lawful.
The Henderson case does not depart from the proposition that a border search is unique. The case recognizes the need for searches in the enforcement of law, but requires that against that need there be balanced the need to protect human dignity. I therefore, look at the person whose dignity is to be preserved. The defendant here was in the company of a narcotics user who was required to, but did not, register at the border. She was his companion in a border town notorious for its traffic in narcotics. If the defendant knew these things, then she should expect that her dignity might be ruffled upon her entry to this country. If she did not know who her companion was and what his habits were, then she was careless of her dignity. I think it is not too much to require that those who would live with dignity make some effort to preserve it. One who accompanies a dr.unk in a public place may expect to be embarrassed. The companion of a narcotics user at a border town may expect some embarrassment. .
The motion to suppress is denied.
. 18 U.S.C. § 1407.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- United States v. Pete Cordova CORTEZ, Irma Angelica Casanova
- Status
- Published