ortega argued october decided march respondent physician psychiatrist employee state hospital primary responsibility training physicians psychiatric residency program hospital officials became concerned possible improprieties management program particularly respect acquisition computer charges concerning sexual harassment female hospital employees inappropriate disciplinary action resident administrative leave pending investigation charges hospital officials allegedly order inventory secure state property searched office seized personal items desk file cabinets used administrative proceedings resulting discharge formal inventory property office ever made papers office merely placed boxes storage respondent filed action petitioner hospital officials federal district alleging search office violated fourth amendment summary judgment district granted judgment petitioners concluding search proper need secure state property office affirming part reversing part remanding case appeals concluded respondent reasonable expectation privacy office search violated fourth amendment held record justified grant partial summary judgment respondent issue liability search remanded case district determination damages held judgment reversed case remanded reversed remanded justice joined chief justice justice white justice powell concluded searches seizures government employers supervisors private property employees subject fourth amendment restraints expectation privacy one place work based upon societal expectations deep roots history amendment however operational realities workplace may make public employees expectations privacy unreasonable intrusion supervisor rather law enforcement official government offices may open fellow employees public expectation privacy reasonable given great variety work environments public sector question whether employee reasonable expectation privacy must addressed basis record reveal extent hospital officials may reasons enter respondent office appeals remanded matter district determination however majority agrees determination appeals respondent reasonable expectation privacy office regardless expectation privacy office undisputed evidence supports conclusion respondent reasonable expectation privacy least desk file cabinets pp determining appropriate standard search conducted public employer areas employee reasonable expectation privacy reasonable search depends context within search takes place requires balancing employee legitimate expectation privacy government need supervision control efficient operation workplace requiring employer obtain warrant whenever employer wishes enter employee office desk file cabinets purpose seriously disrupt routine conduct business unreasonable moreover requiring probable cause standard searches type issue impose intolerable burdens public employers intrusions constitutionally protected privacy interests government employees noninvestigatory purposes well investigations misconduct judged standard reasonableness circumstances standard inception scope intrusion must reasonable pp procedural posture case determined whether search respondent office seizure personal belongings satisfied standard reasonableness courts error summary judgment inappropriate parties dispute actual justification search record inadequate determination reasonableness search seizure remand district must determine matters pp justice scalia concluded offices government employees fortiori drawers files within offices covered fourth amendment protections general matter special circumstances present call exception ordinary rule however government searches retrieve materials investigate violations workplace rules searches sort regarded reasonable normal context violate fourth amendment conflicting incomplete evidence present case conceivably support summary judgment search validating purpose decision must reversed remanded pp jeffrey miller argued cause petitioners briefs john van de kamp attorney general california marvin goldsmith assistant attorney general jeffrey miller teresa tan deputy attorneys general joel klein invitation argued cause filed brief amicus curiae support judgment magno ortega pro se filed brief respondent solicitor general fried assistant attorney general willard deputy solicitor general geller alan horowitz barbara herwig john schnitker filed brief amicus curiae urging reversal briefs amici curiae urging affirmance filed american civil liberties union et al peter morgan jack novik burt neuborne michael simpson american federation state county municipal employees richard kirschner justice announced judgment delivered opinion chief justice justice white justice powell join suit presents two issues concerning fourth amendment rights public employees first must determine whether respondent public employee reasonable expectation privacy office desk file cabinets place work second must address appropriate fourth amendment standard search conducted public employer areas public employee found reasonable expectation privacy magno ortega physician psychiatrist held position chief professional education napa state hospital hospital years dismissal position chief professional education ortega primary responsibility training young physicians psychiatric residency programs july hospital officials including dennis executive director hospital became concerned possible improprieties ortega management residency program particular hospital officials concerned ortega acquisition apple ii computer use residency program officials thought ortega may misled believing computer donated fact computer financed possibly coerced contributions residents additionally hospital officials concerned charges ortega sexually harassed two female hospital employees taken inappropriate disciplinary action resident july requested ortega take paid administrative leave investigation charges ortega request agreed allow ortega take two weeks vacation instead administrative leave ortega however requested stay hospital grounds duration investigation august informed ortega investigation yet completed placed paid administrative leave ortega remained administrative leave hospital terminated employment september selected several hospital personnel conduct investigation including accountant physician hospital security officer richard friday hospital administrator led investigative team point investigation friday made decision enter ortega office specific reason entry ortega office unclear record petitioners claim search conducted secure state property initially petitioners contended search pursuant hospital policy conducting routine inventory state property office terminated employee time search however hospital yet terminated ortega employment ortega still administrative leave apparently policy inventorying offices administrative leave search initiated however petitioners become aware ortega taken computer home ortega contends purpose search secure evidence use administrative disciplinary proceedings resulting search ortega office quite thorough investigators entered office number times seized several items ortega desk file cabinets including valentine day card photograph book poetry sent ortega former resident physician items later used proceeding hearing officer california state personnel board impeach credibility former resident testified ortega behalf investigators also seized billing documentation one ortega private patients california medicaid program investigators otherwise separate ortega property state property one investigator testified rying sort state much gave boxed app thus formal inventory property office ever made instead papers ortega office merely placed boxes put storage ortega retrieve ortega commenced action petitioners federal district alleging search office violated fourth amendment summary judgment district granted petitioners motion summary judgment district relying chenkin bellevue hospital center new york city health hospitals supp sdny concluded search proper need secure state property office appeals ninth circuit affirmed part reversed part concluding ortega reasonable expectation privacy office hospital procedure office inventories inventories reserved employees departing terminated appeals also concluded albeit without explanation search violated fourth amendment appeals held record justified grant partial summary judgment ortega issue liability unlawful search remanded case district determination damages granted certiorari reverse remand ii strictures fourth amendment applied fourteenth amendment applied conduct governmental officials various civil activities new jersey thus held past fourth amendment governs conduct school officials see building inspectors see camara municipal occupational safety health act inspectors see marshall barlow observed ecause individual interest privacy personal security suffers whether government motivation investigate violations criminal laws breaches statutory regulatory standards anomalous say individual private property fully protected fourth amendment individual suspected criminal behavior quoting marshall barlow supra camara municipal supra searches seizures government employers supervisors private property employees therefore subject restraints fourth amendment fourth amendment protects right people secure persons houses papers effects unreasonable searches seizures cases establish ortega fourth amendment rights implicated conduct hospital officials issue case infringed expectation privacy society prepared consider reasonable jacobsen talisman determines cases privacy expectations society prepared accept reasonable instead given weight factors intention framers fourth amendment uses individual put location societal understanding certain areas deserve scrupulous protection government invasion oliver citations omitted reasonableness expectation privacy well appropriate standard search understood differ according context essential first delineate boundaries workplace context workplace includes areas items related work generally within employer control hospital example hallways cafeteria offices desks file cabinets among areas part workplace areas remain part workplace context even employee placed personal items photograph placed desk letter posted employee bulletin board everything passes confines business address considered part workplace context however employee may bring closed luggage office prior leaving trip handbag briefcase workday whatever expectation privacy employee existence outward appearance luggage affected presence workplace employee expectation privacy contents luggage affected way appropriate standard workplace search necessarily apply piece closed personal luggage handbag briefcase happens within employer business address within workplace context recognized employees may reasonable expectation privacy intrusions police see mancusi deforte expectation privacy one home expectation one place work based upon societal expectations deep roots history amendment oliver supra thus mancusi deforte supra held union employee shared office union employees privacy interest office sufficient challenge successfully warrantless search office long settled one standing object search office well home seems clear deforte occupied private office union headquarters union records seized desk filing cabinet office standing private office deforte entitled expect disturbed except personal business invitees records taken except permission union superiors appeals concluded ortega reasonable expectation privacy office five members agree determination see post scalia concurring judgment post blackmun joined brennan marshall stevens dissenting record reveal extent hospital officials may reasons enter ortega office think appeals remanded matter district determination regardless legitimate right access hospital staff may office recognize undisputed evidence suggests ortega reasonable expectation privacy desk file cabinets undisputed evidence discloses ortega share desk file cabinets employees ortega occupied office years kept materials office included personal correspondence medical files correspondence private patients unconnected hospital personal financial records teaching aids notes personal gifts mementos app files physicians residency training kept outside ortega office indeed items found investigators apparently personal items exception items seized use administrative hearings papers effects found office simply placed boxes made available ortega finally note evidence hospital established reasonable regulation policy discouraging employees ortega storing personal papers effects desks file cabinets although absence policy create expectation privacy otherwise exist basis undisputed evidence accept conclusion appeals ortega reasonable expectation privacy least desk file cabinets see gillard schmidt speights blok app iii determined ortega reasonable expectation privacy office appeals simply concluded without discussion search reasonable search fourth amendment stated hold fourth amendment applies searches conducted public employers begin inquiry standards governing searches hat reasonable depends context within search takes place new jersey thus must determine appropriate standard reasonableness applicable search determination standard reasonableness applicable particular class searches requires balanc ing nature quality intrusion individual fourth amendment interests importance governmental interests alleged justify intrusion place camara municipal case searches conducted public employer must balance invasion employees legitimate expectations privacy government need supervision control efficient operation workplace settled except certain carefully defined classes cases search private property without proper consent unreasonable unless authorized valid search warrant mancusi deforte quoting camara municipal supra circumstances however recognized warrant requirement unsuitable particular warrant requirement appropriate burden obtaining warrant likely frustrate governmental purpose behind search camara municipal supra justice blackmun stated nly exceptional circumstances special needs beyond normal need law enforcement make warrant requirement impracticable concurring judgment marshall barlow example explored burdens warrant requirement impose occupational safety health act regulatory scheme held warrant requirement appropriate concluding warrants impose serious burdens inspection system courts prevent inspections necessary enforce statute make less effective new jersey supra concluded warrant requirement suitable school environment requirement unduly interfere maintenance swift informal disciplinary procedures needed schools legitimate privacy interests public employees private objects bring workplace may substantial privacy interests however must balanced realities workplace strongly suggest warrant requirement unworkable police even administrative enforcement personnel conduct searches primary purpose obtaining evidence use criminal enforcement proceedings employers frequently need enter offices desks employees legitimate reasons wholly unrelated illegal conduct employers supervisors focused primarily need complete government agency work prompt efficient manner employer may need correspondence file report available employee office employee away office alleged case employers may need safeguard identify state property records office connection pending investigation suspected employee misfeasance view requiring employer obtain warrant whenever employer wished enter employee office desk file cabinets purpose seriously disrupt routine conduct business unduly burdensome imposing unwieldy warrant procedures cases upon supervisors otherwise reason familiar procedures simply unreasonable contrast circumstances required warrants supervisors offices hospital hardly business investigating violation criminal laws rather searches merely incident primary business agency circumstances imposition warrant requirement conflict realization government offices function every employment decision became constitutional matter connick myers whether probable cause inappropriate standard public employer searches employees offices presents difficult issue part required search based upon probable cause noted new jersey fundamental command fourth amendment searches seizures reasonable although concept probable cause requirement warrant bear reasonableness search certain limited circumstances neither required quoting powell concurring thus careful balancing governmental private interests suggests public interest best served fourth amendment standard reasonableness stops short probable cause hesitated adopt standard concluded example appropriate standard administrative searches probable cause traditional meaning instead administrative warrant obtained showing reasonable legislative administrative standards conducting inspection satisfied see marshall barlow camara municipal initial matter important recognize plethora contexts employers occasion intrude extent employee expectation privacy parties case alleged search either noninvestigatory intrusion investigatory search evidence suspected employee misfeasance undertake determine appropriate fourth amendment standard reasonableness two types employer intrusions leave another day inquiry circumstances governmental interest justifying intrusions public employers efficient proper operation workplace government agencies provide myriad services public work agencies suffer employers required probable cause entered employee desk purpose finding file piece office correspondence indeed difficult give concept probable cause rooted criminal investigatory context much meaning purpose search retrieve file reasons similarly concept probable cause little meaning routine inventory conducted public employers purpose securing state property see colorado bertine illinois lafayette ensure efficient proper operation agency therefore public employers must given wide latitude enter employee offices noninvestigatory reasons come similar conclusion searches conducted pursuant investigation employee misconduct even employers conduct investigation interest substantially different normal need law enforcement new jersey supra blackmun concurring judgment public employers interest ensuring agencies operate effective efficient manner work agencies inevitably suffers inefficiency incompetence mismanagement misfeasance employees indeed many cases public employees entrusted tremendous responsibility consequences misconduct incompetence agency public interest severe contrast law enforcement officials therefore public employers enforcers criminal law instead public employers direct overriding interest ensuring work agency conducted proper efficient manner view therefore probable cause requirement searches type issue impose intolerable burdens public employers delay correcting employee misconduct caused need probable cause rather reasonable suspicion translated tangible often irreparable damage agency work ultimately public interest see time required teacher ask questions make observations necessary turn reasonable grounds probable cause time teacher students diverted essential task education additionally law enforcement officials expected schoo niceties probable cause expectation generally applicable public employers least search used gather evidence criminal offense simply unrealistic expect supervisors government agencies learn subtleties probable cause standard justice blackmun observed teacher neither training experience complexities probable cause law enforcement officer possesses make quick judgment existence probable cause believe observation equally apt description public employer supervisors hospital conclude reasonableness standard permit regulation employer conduct according dictates reason common sense balanced substantial government interests efficient proper operation workplace privacy interests government employees place work insubstantial far less found home contexts building inspections camara employer intrusions issue involve relatively limited invasion employee privacy government offices provided employees sole purpose facilitating work agency employee may avoid exposing personal belongings work simply leaving home sum conclude special needs beyond normal need law enforcement make requirement impracticable blackmun concurring judgment legitimate noninvestigatory intrusions well investigations misconduct standard reasonableness neither unduly burden efforts government employers ensure efficient proper operation workplace authorize arbitrary intrusions upon privacy public employees hold therefore public employer intrusions constitutionally protected privacy interests government employees noninvestigatory purposes well investigations misconduct judged standard reasonableness circumstances reasonableness standard inception scope intrusion must reasonable determining reasonableness search involves twofold inquiry first one must consider whether action justified inception terry ohio second one must determine whether search actually conducted reasonably related scope circumstances justified interference first place ibid new jersey supra iv procedural posture case attempt determine whether search ortega office seizure personal belongings satisfy standard reasonableness articulated case evidentiary hearing held case district acted summary judgment granted petitioners summary judgment appeals hand concluded record case justified granting partial summary judgment liability ortega believe district appeals error summary judgment inappropriate parties dispute actual justification search record inadequate determination motion summary judgment reasonableness search seizure petitioners consistently attempted justify search seizure required secure state property ortega office friday testified deposition ordered members investigative team check ortega office order separate business files personal files order ascertain office app testified search initiated wanted make sure state property identified order provide ortega property get order make sure resident files protected sort stuff motion summary judgment district petitioners alleged search secure property reasonable part established hospital policy inventory property within offices departing terminated separated employees record doc district apparently accepted characterization search applied chenkin bellevue hospital center new york city health hospitals supp sdny case involving fourth amendment challenge inspection policy time search however ortega terminated rather still administrative leave record reflect whether hospital policy inventorying property investigated employees respondent moreover consistently rejected petitioners characterization search motivated need secure state property instead ortega contended intrusion investigatory search whose purpose simply discover evidence use administrative proceedings pointed fact inventory ever taken property office seized evidence eventually used administrative proceedings additionally stated deposition one purpose search look contractural sic kinds documents might related issues involved investigation app circumstances district error granting petitioners summary judgment dispute fact character search district acted erroneous assumption search conducted pursuant hospital policy moreover findings made scope search undertaken appeals concluded ortega entitled partial summary judgment liability noted hospital policy inventorying property employees administrative leave consider whether search otherwise reasonable standard reasonableness articulated case however absence hospital policy necessarily make search unlawful search secure state property valid long petitioners reasonable belief government property ortega office needed secured scope intrusion reasonable light justification indeed petitioners put forward evidence reasonable belief time search petitioners knew ortega removed computer hospital removal computer together allegations mismanagement residency program sexual harassment may made search reasonable inception standard put forth case district order therefore appeals conclusion summary judgment appropriate stand remand therefore district must determine justification search seizure evaluate reasonableness inception search scope accordingly judgment appeals reversed case remanded proceedings consistent opinion ordered occasion case reach issue appropriate standard evaluation fourth amendment reasonableness seizure ortega personal items neither district appeals addressed issue amicus curiae brief filed behalf respondent discuss legality seizure separate search also occasion case address whether qualified immunity protect petitioners damages liability see davis scherer harlow fitzgerald qualified immunity issue raised addressed either district appeals address proper fourth amendment analysis drug alcohol testing employees finally address appropriate standard employee investigated criminal misconduct breaches statutory regulatory standards justice scalia concurring judgment although share judgment case must reversed remanded disagree reason reversal given plurality opinion standard prescribes fourth amendment inquiry address latter point first plurality opinion instructs lower courts existence fourth amendment protection public employee business office assessed basis light whether office open fellow employees public expectation privacy reasonable ante clue provided open open must much less suggested police officers gather facts necessary refined inquiry observed oliver repeatedly acknowledged difficulties created courts police citizens ad hoc definition fourth amendment standards applied differing factual circumstances even disagree plurality result proper legal standard produce case us object formulation standard devoid content produces rather eliminates uncertainty field whatever plurality standard means however must wrong leads conclusion present facts hospital officials extensive reasons enter ortega office fourth amendment protection existed ante privacy protected fourth amendment solitude man enjoys fourth amendment protection home example even though wife children run place indeed even though landlord right conduct unannounced inspections time similarly view one personal office constitutionally protected warrantless intrusions police even though employer excluded think decided much many years ago mancusi deforte held union employee fourth amendment rights regard office union headquarters shared two employees even though acknowledged employees personal business guests implicitly union enter office secretary working corporation office frequently entered corporation employees protected unreasonable searches office government also government secretary working office frequently entered government employees reason determination legitimate expectation privacy exists affected fact government rather private entity employer constitutional protection unreasonable searches government disappear merely government right make reasonable intrusions capacity employer agree moreover plurality view reasonableness expectation privacy thus existence fourth amendment protection changes intrusion supervisor rather law enforcement official ante identity searcher police employer relevant whether fourth amendment protections apply whether search protected area reasonable pursuant traditional analysis former question must answered global basis example fireman enters private dwelling response alarm ask whether occupant reasonable expectation privacy hence fourth amendment protection firemen rather whether given fact fourth amendment covers private dwellings intrusion purpose extinguishing fire reasonable cf michigan tyler similar analysis appropriate hold therefore offices government employees fortiori drawers files within offices covered fourth amendment protections general matter qualifier necessary cover unusual situations office subject unrestricted public access expose public therefore subject fourth amendment protection katz since unquestioned office assigned ortega since special circumstances suggested call exception ordinary rule agree district appeals fourth amendment protections applied case turns therefore whether fourth amendment violated whether governmental intrusion reasonable government status employer character search become relevant general rule warrantless searches per se unreasonable recognized exceptions special needs beyond normal need law enforcement make warrant requirement impracticable new jersey blackmun concurring judgment special needs present context government employment government like employer needs frequent convenient access desks offices file cabinets purposes hold government searches retrieve materials investigate violations workplace rules searches sort regarded reasonable normal context violate fourth amendment conflicting incomplete evidence present case conceivably support summary judgment search validating purpose agree plurality decision must reversed remanded justice blackmun justice brennan justice marshall justice stevens join dissenting facts case simple straightforward ortega expectation privacy office desk file cabinets target search petitioners characterized investigatory nature special need see new jersey opinion concurring judgment dispense warrant requirements fourth amendment evaluate search applying traditional standard standard search clearly violated ortega fourth amendment rights problems plurality opinion arise failure unwillingness realize facts clear plurality however discovers feels factual dispute plurality certain whether search routine investigatory accordingly concludes remand appropriate course action despite remand plurality assumes must announce standard concerning reasonableness public employer search workplace plurality treats facts dispute formulates standard distance situation presented case seem way undertake fourth amendment analysis especially area relatively unfamiliar analysis conducted properly always fact specific extent inappropriate plurality formulation standard arise sustained consideration particular factual situation moreover given standard ultimately rests judgments factual situations apparent plurality assumed existence hypothetical facts standard follows assumed facts weighted favor public employer result standard emerges makes reasonable almost workplace search public employer necessary review briefly factual record case plurality assertion ante dispute fact character search plurality considers either inventory search secure government property investigative search gather evidence concerning ortega alleged misdeeds ante difficult comprehend facts case search way seen one inventory purposes plurality concedes search made pursuant hospital policy routinely inventorying state property office terminated employee time search ortega administrative leave terminated ante napa policy inventorying office employee placed administrative leave ante plurality however observes absence policy dispositively eliminate inventorying securing state property possible purpose conducting search ante evidence suggesting purpose plurality points petitioners concern ortega may removed hospital grounds computer owned hospital desire secure items files located ortega office see ante record evidence demonstrates however ensuring computer removed hospital reason search friday leader investigative team stated alleged removal computer nothing decision enter ortega office app admitted little connection entry attempt petitioners ascertain location computer search computer focus insofar team investigating practices dealing acquisition deposition testimony petitioners suggest search inventory character insofar aimed separate ortega personal property hospital property office suggestion however overwhelmingly contradicted remarks petitioners particularly character search spoke individuals involved search investigators see even described search inventory nature observed aimed primarily furthering investigative purposes see basically trying remove obviously state records records program department materials involved running residency program around contracts around computer around areas interested investigating moreover plurality recognizes ante investigators never made formal inventory found ortega office rather rummaged belongings seized highly personal items later used termination proceeding impeach witness favorable ibid furthermore search conducted evening app undertaken investigators received legal advice search question stemmed neither hospital policy practice routine entrances ortega office plainly exceptional investigatory nature accordingly significant factual dispute case ii examining plurality standard reasonableness workplace searches like state agreement disagreement plurality discussion public employee expectation privacy important course case plurality acknowledges ortega expectation privacy desk file cabinets ante plurality concedes ante majority holds similar expectation office respect plurality general comments complete agreement observation ndividuals lose fourth amendment rights merely work government instead private employer ante moreover go along plurality observation certain situations operational realities workplace may remove expectation privacy part employee ibid however disturbed plurality suggestion see ante routine entries visitors might completely remove expectation first suggestion contrary traditional protection recognized fourth amendment accords offices see oliver fourth amendment protection offices commercial buildings may legitimate expectations privacy also based upon societal expectations deep roots history amendment hoffa fourth amendment protects security man relies upon places property within constitutionally protected area home office hotel room automobile common understanding office place worker receives occasional visitor thus office received traditional fourth amendment protection cases understanding routine visits occur moreover plurality appears recognize see ante precise extent employee expectation privacy often turns nature search observation accordance principle fourth amendment may protect individual expectation privacy one context even though expectation may unreasonable another see new jersey see also sales new york opening retail store public mean consents wholesale searches seizures conform fourth amendment guarantees justice scalia observes onstitutional protection unreasonable searches government disappear merely government right make reasonable intrusions capacity employer ante thus although employee might well reasonable expectation privacy respect occasional visit fellow employee expectation afterhours search locked office investigative team seeking materials used termination proceeding finally importantly reality work modern time whether done public private employees reveals public employee expectation privacy workplace carefully safeguarded lightly set aside unfortunately true workplace become another home working americans many employees spend better part days much evenings work see kanter work family critical review agenda research policy see also bellah madsen sullivan swidler tipton habits heart individualism commitment american life less frantic concern advancement reduction working hours make easier men women participate fully working family life consequently employee private life must intersect workplace example employee takes advantage work lunch breaks make personal telephone calls attend personal business receive personal visitors office result tidy distinctions plurality alludes see ante workplace professional affairs one hand personal possessions private activities exist reality employee private possessions stay briefcase handbag thus plurality remark employee may avoid exposing personal belongings work simply leaving home ante reveals part members plurality certain insensitivity operational realities workplace ante value ortega clearly expectation privacy office desk file cabinets particularly respect type investigatory search involved view examining facts cases involving searches workplace courts careful determine expectation also relation search question iii outset analysis plurality observes appropriate standard reasonableness applied public employer search employee workplace arrived balancing privacy interests employee public employer interests justifying intrusion ante traditional fourth amendment jurisprudence however courts abandon warrant requirements constitute standard reasonableness government search framers established nly exceptional circumstances special needs beyond normal need law enforcement make warrant requirement impracticable new jersey opinion concurring judgment see place opinion concurring judgment sum practical realities particular situation suggest government official obtain warrant based upon probable cause without sacrificing ultimate goals search contribute turn balancing test formulate standard reasonableness context new jersey supra faulted neglecting crucial step fourth amendment analysis see agreed however standard conclusion step taken revealed case presented situation special need recognized discipline country secondary schools essential promotion overall goal education teacher maintain discipline every time search called teacher procure warrant based probable cause accordingly observed special need immediate response behavior threatens either safety schoolchildren teachers educational process justifies excepting school searches warrant requirements applying standard determined balancing relevant interests plurality repeats error analysis although plurality mentions special need step ante turns immediately balancing test formulate standard reasonableness error significant given facts case special need exists justify dispensing warrant requirements observed facts suggest investigatory search undertaken obtain evidence charges mismanagement time ortega administrative leave permitted enter hospital grounds special practical need might justified dispensing warrant requirements without sacrificing ultimate goal maintaining effective institution devoted training healing disciplining hospital employees contributed petitioners taken evidence ortega alleged improprieties magistrate order obtain warrant furthermore seems exactly kind situation neutral magistrate involvement helpful curtailing infringement upon ortega privacy see district historical judgment fourth amendment accepts unreviewed executive discretion may yield readily pressures obtain incriminating evidence overlook potential invasions privacy protected speech petitioners forced articulate exact reasons search specify items ortega office sought prevented general rummaging doctor office desk file cabinets thus special need case demanded traditional warrant requirements dispensed petitioners failure conduct search accordance traditional standard reasonableness end analysis judgment appeals affirmed even accept proposition case presents situation special need calling exception warrant standard believe plurality balancing public employer employee respective interests arrive different standard seriously flawed plurality fails focus facts instead arrives conclusion basis assumed facts first sweeping broad brush plurality announces rule dispenses warrant requirement every public employer search employee office desk file cabinets seriously disrupt routine conduct business unduly burdensome ante plurality reasons government agency conduct work efficient manner employer needed warrant every routine entry employee office search file correspondence every investigation suspected employee misconduct addition argues warrant requirement imposed employer unfamiliar procedure prove unwieldy ibid danger formulating standard basis assumed facts becomes clear stage plurality opinion whenever arrived standard reasonableness warrant requirements first found analysis factual situation nexus standard employee privacy interests government purposes served search put another way adopts new standard satisfied alternative particular circumstances terry ohio concluded practical matter brief stops individuals police officers need subject warrant still concerned however import warrant requirement provides neutral scrutiny judge weighed detail law enforcement suspect interests circumstances protective search resulting standard constituted equivalent warrant judging officer behavior reasonable objective standard camara municipal hand declined abandon warrant standard case municipal health inspection light interests target health investigation government enforcing health standards careful balancing respect warrant requirement absent plurality opinion absence inevitable light gulf plurality analysis concrete factual setting certainly correct public employer expected obtain warrant every routine entry employee workplace situation however justify dispensing warrant searches employer warrant requirement perfectly suited many searches including instant one moreover although plurality abandons warrant requirement explain substitute standard adopts retains anything normal neutral scrutiny judge sum plurality general result preordained cut particular factual setting make necessary distinctions among types searches formulate alternative warrant requirement derives precise weighing competing interests plurality turns balancing produce alternative probable cause limiting analysis two situations arguably presented facts case noninvestigatory intrusion inventory search investigatory search evidence suspected employee misfeasance investigatory search ante limitation however illusory plurality describes searches broad fashion difficult imagine search fit one categories moreover proposes standard one taken new jersey inventory investigatory searches see ante therefore context remanding case facts unclear plurality announcing standard apply public employer searches moreover plurality also abandons effort careful balancing arriving substitute probable cause elimination warrant requirement requires nexus absence employee privacy interests government interests served search also formulation standard less probable cause particular search demand similar connection factors see plurality discussion investigatory searches reveals attempt set forth appropriate nexus certainly true plurality observes public employer interest eliminating incompetence misconduct order enable government agency accomplish tasks efficient manner also conceivable public employee privacy interests somewhat limited workplace although noted extent suggested plurality plurality however fails explain balancing interests necessarily leads standard borrowed new jersey opposed imaginable standards indeed balancing simply asserted rather explicated plurality never really justifies probable cause characterized practical nontechnical conception brinegar protect adequately public employer interests situation presented case see new jersey brennan concurring part dissenting part iv reviewed great length plurality opinion question public employers searches employees workplaces like relatively unexplored area fourth amendment law demands careful analysis searches appear various factual settings courts beginning face present different problems accordingly believe examine closely practical realities particular situation interests implicated replacing traditional warrant requirements standard reasonableness derived balancing test fourth amendment demands less ignoring specific facts case announcing abstract standard reasonableness employer workplace searches plurality undermines fourth amendment rights public employees also analysis constitutionality public employer searches respectfully dissent footnotes true expressed concern workability ad hoc definition fourth amendment standards applied differing factual circumstances ante scalia concurring judgment quoting oliver given however number types workplace searches public employers imagined ranging way employer routine entry retrieval file planned investigatory search employee suspected criminal misdeeds development jurisprudence area might well require approach see california carney stevens dissenting true rules governing search seizure formulated refined painstaking scrutiny adjudication new jersey brennan concurring part dissenting part think necessary develop single standard govern school searches traditional fourth amendment law applies even standard searches seizures emphasis original approach rule governing particular type workplace search unlike standard plurality emerge concrete set facts possess precision exploration every aspect multifaced situation embracing conflicting demanding interests produce see fruehauf manner plurality arrives standard seems thus harms ortega public employees also disservice fourth amendment analysis argued plurality removes analysis facts case order arrive result unfavorable public employees whose position members plurality look upon much sympathy justice cardozo long ago explained judges never free feelings times emerging personal lives spoken forces judges avowedly avail shape form content judgments even forces seldom fully consciousness lie near surface however existence influence likely disclaimed subject exhausted recognition power deep consciousness forces likes dislikes predilections prejudices complex instincts emotions habits convictions make man whether litigant judge cardozo nature judicial process plurality correct pointing district erred conclusion hospital policy justified search ante error district part also concluded ortega notified search participated see app conclusion odds record see notion public employees expectation privacy workplace particularly respect private documents papers kept exemplified recent remarks attorney general responding questions concerning possibility search seizure papers offices government employees connection investigation allegedly illegal diversion funds central american recipients reported stated sure opportunity legal right get personal papers certainly evidence criminality supported search warrant time think public employees private documents belong government times moreover courts recognized public employee legitimate expectation privacy employer search seizure workplace see gillard schmidt search desk mcintyre monitoring conversations office desk see williams collins search desk cases courts decided employee expectation respect workplace search established regulation permitted search see speights describing cases donato supp ed aff government regulation notified employees lockers mint viewed employees private lockers question search pursuant regulations perhaps greatest sign disappearance distinction work private life fact women traditional representatives private sphere family life entered work force increasing numbers see bna special report work family changing dynamic therein noted myth separate worlds one work family life long harbored employers unions even workers effectively laid rest inseparability undeniable particularly families become norm exception distressing number single parents required raise children import conflicts family workplace indeed whole society grow demographic social transformations roles men women come fully clarified appreciated remarks professor phyllis moen also troubled plurality implication public employee entitled lesser degree privacy workplace public agency employee owns much constitutes workplace implication emerges distinction plurality draws workplace context includes hallways cafeteria offices desks file cabinets employee closed personal luggage handbag briefcase ante however made clear privacy interests protected fourth amendment turn ownership particular premises see rakas illinois protection fourth amendment depends upon property right invaded place upon whether person claims protection amendment legitimate expectation privacy invaded place katz fourth amendment protects people simply areas sure public employer ownership premises relevant determining employee expectation privacy often main reason routine visits employee office employee assigned office work purposes expected employee receive visitors employer maintain office fact ownership however like routine visits abrogate employee expectation privacy part analysis related special need step courts turn balancing test conclude traditional warrant requirements practical alternative balancing test try identify standard reasonableness traditional one suitable circumstances warrant requirements however continue serve model formulation new standard conceivable moreover initially decided faced situation special need calls balancing may conclude application balancing test traditional standard suitable one context workplace investigations particular goals government agency coupled need special employee discipline may justify dispensing warrant requirement see security law enforcement employees dist council american federation state county municipal employees carey government interest maintaining security correctional facility justifies strip searches correctional officers certain circumstances absence warrant warrant requirement might unwieldy public employers required every workplace search plurality failed explain facts case obtaining warrant burdensome petitioners even one assumes unfamiliar requirement fact opposite seems true moreover contrary plurality suggestion see ante warrant requirement limited criminal context see camara municipal plurality adopts standard reasonableness circumstances ante fails completely suggest standard captures protection traditional warrant requirement indeed standard appears simply alternative probable cause holds true plurality discussion inventory searches plurality attempt explication consists little series assertions requirement impose intolerable burdens public employers delay caused requirement result tangible often irreparable damage government agency public employers expected learn subtleties probable cause standard see ante assertions pass careful balancing facts case given search conducted ortega administrative leave hospital advice counsel investigating party included security officer observation particular fourth amendment standard reasonableness developed specific context bears repeating even believed case appropriate vehicle development standard searches fault plurality failure give much substance standard borrowed almost verbatim new jersey see ante described detail substance test tailored circumstances case thus directly transferable halls high school offices government event apply rather stark standard reasonableness announced plurality conclude petitioners satisfy assuming without deciding petitioners individualized suspicion ortega mismanaging psychiatric residency program believe scope search reasonably related concern petitioners truly search evidence respondent mismanagement difficult understand looked personal belongings ortega search resulted seizure valentine day card photograph book poetry conceivable relation claimed purpose search although plurality view seizure items issue case see ante think seizure relevant determining reasonableness scope search accordingly plurality standard search unreasonable one example fourth amendment problem associated drug alcohol testing employees see shoemaker handel exception extended warrantless breath urine testing jockeys given heavily regulated nature industry cert denied national treasury employees union von raab supp ed la urinalysis customs service employees without probable cause reasonable suspicion struck violative fourth amendment