The Law Dictionary for Everyone
Following is the case brief for Weeks v. United States, 232 U.S. 383 (1914) Case Summary of Weeks v. United States: Police officers arrested the defendant, Weeks, at his place of work. Police officers then went to Weeks’ home, gained entry, and took possession of papers and other articles belonging to Weeks. The police did not have a search warrant […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Kyllo v. United States, 533 U.S. 27 (2001) Case Summary of Kyllo v. United States: Federal agents used a thermal imaging device outside of Kyllo’s home, suspecting that Kyllo was growing marijuana in his home, which requires use of heat lamps. The device indicated that more heat was emanating from Kyllo’s residence than from […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for New Jersey v. T.L.O., 469 U.S. 325 (1985) Case Summary of New Jersey v. T.L.O.: A 14-year-old high school student, T.L.O., was found smoking in the girls’ restroom at school. The Assistant Vice Principal subsequently searched her purse and found evidence of both cigarette smoking and marijuana dealing at the school. At the juvenile […]
Read moreThe plain view doctrine allows a police officer to take any evidence of a crime or contraband that is found in plain sight during a normal observation. The police officer does not need a warrant in such a case to collect that evidence. For example, the plain view doctrine is used often during screenings of passengers at U.S. airports by […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Rakas v. Illinois, 439 U.S. 128 (1978) Case Summary of Rakas v. Illinois: Police stopped a car after receiving a radio call that it may have been involved in a robbery. The officer searched the car after having petitioners, who were passengers in the car, step out. Evidence of the robbery was found in […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Mincey v. Arizona, 437 U.S. 385 (1978) Case Summary of Mincey v. Arizona: An undercover police officer and petitioner Mincey were shot during a drug bust. Mincey was tried and convicted of murder, assault, and drug offenses. Mincey’s motions to suppress the fruits of a four-day search of his home, and his statements while […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Maryland v. Buie, 494 U.S. 325 (1990) Case Summary of Maryland v. Buie: Respondent Buie emerged from his basement while officers were executing an arrest warrant for him in his home. After Buie’s arrest, an officer conducted a protective sweep of the basement and found incriminating evidence in plain view. The plain view evidence […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Horton v. California, 496 U.S. 128 (1990) Case Summary of Horton v. California: Petitioner moved to suppress evidence of an armed robbery that was discovered in plain view by an officer during execution of a search warrant. The officer expected to find those items, however, so the plain view discovery was not inadvertent. The […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Florida v. Riley, 488 U.S. 445 (1989) Case Summary of Florida v. Riley: Police viewed Riley’s backyard greenhouse from a helicopter at 400 feet and saw what appeared to be marijuana. After obtaining a warrant based on the observation, police searched Riley’s greenhouse and charged him with possession of marijuana. Following Riley’s motion, the trial […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for California v. Carney, 471 U.S. 386 (1985) Case Summary of California v. Carney: Respondent provided marijuana to a youth in exchange for sexual favors in respondent’s motor home. Following the transaction, federal agents entered the motor home without consent or a warrant. Respondent unsuccessfully moved to suppress the marijuana evidence, and then pleaded no […]
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