This section contains the nature of the case and procedural background.

Officers had a warrant to arrest a Lawrence Marquess. When they entered his house, they found five others there, but Marquess was not to be found. While searching for Marquess, the officers smelled marijuana and saw seeds on the mantel in one of the bedrooms. Officers left to get a search warrant but detained everyone in the house unless they consented to a search. Two of the party left the house after they were searched. Three others remained sitting in the living room. The other officers returned with the warrant, and everyone was read Miranda warnings and then searched. Cox was found to have a large amount of drugs in her purse. She turned to Rawlings (D) and told him to take what was his. D claimed all the drugs and $4,500 in cash was found in his shirt pocket as well as a knife. D was placed under arrest. D moved to get the evidence and his statements made when police discovered the drugs suppressed but admitted at the suppression hearing that the he did not have an expectation that the purse would be free from governmental intrusion. The court denied his claim. The Supreme Court granted certiorari.

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