Wiley Files Supreme Court Amicus Brief in High-Stakes Fourth Amendment Case

September 22, 2026

Wiley has filed an amicus brief in the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of The Rutherford Institute in Anibowei v. Blanche, a case with significant implications for Fourth Amendment law and civil liberties. The brief urges the Court to review a Fifth Circuit ruling concerning whether U.S. border agents can legally search the contents of travelers’ cell phones without a warrant when they enter the country.

Wiley’s brief argues that a border-search exception to the Fourth Amendment undermines Americans’ privacy rights while failing to meaningfully advance the government’s interests at the border. The brief further asserts that neither the text nor the history of the Fourth Amendment supports an exception for border searches.

The Wiley team representing The Rutherford Institute includes Pro Bono Partner Theodore A. Howard, partners Lukman Azeez and Jason McCullough, and associates Boyd Garriott, Stephanie Rigizadeh, Melissa Alba, and Anthony M. Paranzino.