Final answer:
The Schneckloth v. Bustamonte's 1973 Supreme Court ruling is considered seminal because it established the principle of voluntariness in consent searches.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Schneckloth v. Bustamonte's 1973 Supreme Court ruling is considered a seminal case because it established the principle of voluntariness in consent searches. In this case, the court held that consent to a search is valid as long as it is given voluntarily, even if the person giving consent is unaware of their right to refuse. This ruling has had a significant impact on how law enforcement conducts consent searches.