

A K-9 Alert Doesn't Become Invalid Just Because No Drugs Are Found: U.S. 7th Cir. Affirms Firearm Conviction
United States v. Banks, No. 24-2227 (7th Cir. June 30, 2026) TL;DR The Seventh Circuit upheld a firearm conviction after rejecting multiple Fourth Amendment challenges arising from a traffic stop. The court held that officers had reasonable suspicion for the initial stop, did not unlawfully prolong the detention while the driver attempted to obtain updated insurance information, and lawfully searched the vehicle after a certified drug-detection dog alerted—even though no narc
5 min read


Pennsylvania Rejects the Open Fields Doctrine: State Supreme Court Holds Warrantless Searches of Posted Private Land Violate the State Constitution
Punxsutawney Hunting Club, et al. v. Pennsylvania Game Commission, No. 23 WAP 2023 (Pa. July 21, 2026) TL;DR In one of the most significant Fourth Amendment-related decisions of 2026, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court held that Article I, Section 8 of the Pennsylvania Constitution does not permit warrantless searches of posted or enclosed private lands under the federal Open Fields Doctrine. In doing so, the court expressly overruled its 2007 decision in Commonwealth v. Russo an
6 min read


