Transcript Skinner v. railway labor Executives Association

March 12, 1989
Washington, D.C.
Background


In 1985, the Federal Railroad
Administration (FRA) adopted
regulations addressing the problem of
alcohol and drug use among railroad
employees
This was the direct result of at least 21
significant train accidents involving
alcohol or drug use
Background (Cont.)



These accidents resulted in 25 deaths
The Railway Labor Executives’
Association filed a lawsuit in the U.S.
District Court for the Northern District of
California to forbid these regulations
After going through the district court and
the Court of Appeals for the Ninth
Circuit, the case was then heard by the
U.S. Supreme Court
Samuel K. Skinner, U.S. Secretary of Transportation
Railway Labor Executives’ Association
Richard Thornburgh, U.S. Attorney General
Lawrence M. Mann
Justices for the Court

Harry A. Blackmun
 Anthony M. Kennedy (writing for the court)
 Sandra Day O'Connor
 William H. Rehnquist
 Antonin Scalia
 John Paul Stevens
 Byron R. White
Petitioner’s Claim

That regulations requiring the testing of
bodily fluids after a train accident do not
violate the Fourth Amendment rights of
railroad employees
Fourth Amendment

The right of the people to be secure in
their persons, houses, papers, and
effects, against unreasonable searches
and seizures, shall not be violated, and
no Warrants shall issue, but upon
probable cause, supported by Oath or
affirmation, and particularly describing
the place to be searched, and the
persons or things to be seized.
Decision


Upheld regulations that required
railroads to test urine, blood, and breath
of employees involved in train accidents,
deciding that such tests did not violate
the Fourth Amendment
Voted 2-7 in favor of the Petitioner
Personal Opinion

I agree with the decision to uphold the
regulations to test bodily fluids after a
train accident because railroad
employees should not be under the
influence of anything while operating a
train due to the many dangers involved
with them