No. 25-1099October Term 2025Petition Pending
Quashaun Melsun Reel, Petitioner v. North Carolina
This case concerns whether police may enter the area immediately surrounding a home to conduct a “knock and talk” investigation without a warrant.
Case status
- Current stage
- Petition Pending
- Latest event
- Petition pending
- Decision timing
- No decision timeline until the Court agrees to hear the case.
- What it's about
This case concerns whether police may enter the area immediately surrounding a home to conduct a “knock and talk” investigation without a warrant. Reel argues that when officers enter a home’s curtilage to gather evidence rather than for an ordinary visit, the entry is a Fourth Amendment search.
Question presented
Did the North Carolina Supreme Court correctly uphold the state trial court’s denial of Petitioner’s motion to suppress under this Court’s decision in Florida v. Jardines, 569 U.S. 1 (2013)?
- Case path
Supreme Court of North Carolina / Petition pending
- Area
Petition for review pending
Briefing
What it's about
Quashaun Melsun Reel asks the Supreme Court to review a North Carolina decision allowing police to enter the area immediately around a home for a “knock and talk” investigation without a warrant. He argues that entering that protected area to gather evidence is a Fourth Amendment search.
Argument
The petition asks the Court to decide whether North Carolina correctly applied Florida v. Jardines; oral argument has not been scheduled.
Impact
The case could affect when officers may approach homes and investigate without a warrant. For example, it could shape protections for a homeowner when police come onto the property seeking evidence rather than making an ordinary visit.
What is at stake in Reel v. North Carolina?
The case concerns whether police may enter the area immediately around a home for a knock-and-talk investigation without a warrant.
Who could be affected by Reel’s challenge?
Homeowners and police officers could be affected by rules defining when officers may approach a home to seek evidence.
What happens next in Reel v. North Carolina?
The Court may decide whether to hear the case. Oral argument has not been scheduled.
Related cases
Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary materials plus reporting.
- Note
- Best-effort analysis: this explainer relies on a mix of primary materials and trusted secondary sources. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Sep 3, 2026
- Method
- Methodology