John Crittenden, Appellant v. the State of Texas, Appellee

Summary

The Court affirmed the Court of Appeals, holding that an objectively valid traffic stop is not unlawful under Article I, § 9 of the Texas Constitution even if the officer had an ulterior motive, thereby adopting the objective test for pretextual seizure claims. Justice Baird dissented, arguing that the majority’s reliance on judicial convenience ignored the Texas Constitution’s potential to provide greater protection and advocating a modified‑objective standard.