Which case established that a state cannot impose suspicionless drug testing on candidates for public office under the Fourth Amendment?

Which case established that a state cannot impose suspicionless drug testing on candidates for public office under the Fourth Amendment?

• A. Forsyth County v. Nationalist Movement (1992)
• B. Chandler v. Miller (1997)
• C. Ballew v. Georgia (1978)
• D. Gregg v. Georgia (1976)

Answer: (B)

Fourth Amendment protection against unreasonable searches applies to drug testing, and suspicionless tests are generally allowed only if there’s a strong, tailored justification. In Chandler v. Miller, the Supreme Court struck down Georgia’s rule that every candidate for state office must pass a drug test before appearing on the ballot. The Court reasoned there was no individualized suspicion of drug use and no compelling safety or integrity justification to justify a broad, universal search of all candidates; such testing is invasive, privacy-invading, and would chill political participation. The other cases don’t address this Fourth Amendment issue—Forsyth County deals with First Amendment concerns about speech and funding, while Ballew and Gregg concern juries and the death penalty, not drug testing of candidates.

Fourth Amendment protection against unreasonable searches applies to drug testing, and suspicionless tests are generally allowed only if there’s a strong, tailored justification. In Chandler v. Miller, the Supreme Court struck down Georgia’s rule that every candidate for state office must pass a drug test before appearing on the ballot. The Court reasoned there was no individualized suspicion of drug use and no compelling safety or integrity justification to justify a broad, universal search of all candidates; such testing is invasive, privacy-invading, and would chill political participation. The other cases don’t address this Fourth Amendment issue—Forsyth County deals with First Amendment concerns about speech and funding, while Ballew and Gregg concern juries and the death penalty, not drug testing of candidates.