what are some major criminal cases where defense attorney use the exclusionary rule

by Prof. Vincenzo Herzog III 7 min read

The 1914 case of Weeks v. United States was a landmark case that laid down the basis for the exclusionary rule. The case involves Fremont Weeks, who was believed to have transported lottery tickets through the mail in violation of the Criminal Code.

Full Answer

What is the exclusionary rule in criminal law?

Apr 10, 2017 · Criminal Defense. Assault Crimes. Assault & Family Violence; Sexual Assault; Domestic Violence & Abuse; Facing Injury to a Child (Child Abuse) Charges; Animal Cruelty & Abuse; Drug Crime Defense. Possession of a Controlled Substance; Possession of a Dangerous Drug; Possession of Marijuana Defense; Driving with a Suspended or Invalid License; Elder …

Does the state exclusionary rule apply to criminal trespassers?

Sep 14, 2017 · There are ways to poke holes in the case, even suppressing some of the evidence to help reduce or dismiss the charges against the accused. One way to reduce the evidence against you in a criminal case is through the exclusionary rule. This rule provides courts with the ability to exclude incriminating evidence from being introduced at trial if ...

When did the Supreme Court establish the exclusionary rule?

May 06, 2016 · With extensive experience as a criminal defense in the state of Maine, attorney William T. Bly has made use of the exclusionary rule for criminal defendants numerous times in the past to defend his clients against criminal charges. If you or someone you know has been charged with a crime in Maine, call his law office at (207) 571-8146 or contact him online.

Can illegally obtained evidence be used against a defendant?

IN DEFENSE OF THE EXCLUSIONARY RULE ... A simple example will illustrate how the exclusionary rule can affect a criminal investigation. If a policeman ... attorney could have the trial judge bar ...

What cases does the exclusionary rule apply to?

Overview. The exclusionary rule prevents the government from using most evidence gathered in violation of the United States Constitution. The decision in Mapp v. Ohio established that the exclusionary rule applies to evidence gained from an unreasonable search or seizure in violation of the Fourth Amendment.

When a court applies the exclusionary rule in a criminal case it means that?

The exclusionary rule means that evidence illegally seized by state or federal officers cannot be used in: any state or federal prosecution.

Which U.S. Supreme Court made the exclusionary rule applicable to criminal prosecutions?

Mapp v. OhioUnited States, the Supreme Court ruled that evidence obtained in violation of Fourth Amendment safeguards against improper searches and seizures would not be admissible in federal prosecutions. In 1961 the Supreme Court in Mapp v. Ohio applied this exclusionary rule to state and local prosecutions as well.

What are 3 exceptions to the exclusionary rule?

Three exceptions to the exclusionary rule are "attenuation of the taint," "independent source," and "inevitable discovery."

What happens when the exclusionary rule is invoked?

What happens when the exclusionary rule is invoked? Certain evidence cannot be used against the defendant at trial. How does the Fourth Amendment protect Americans from unreasonable searches and seizures? ... The defendant pleads guilty to a lesser crime to avoid a trial.

What are the three primary purposes of the exclusionary rule?

The Mapp Court specified three purposes served by the exclusion- ary rule: constitutional privilege,29 judicial integrity,30 and deter- rence. 31 First, the Court stated that the exclusionary rule was a constitutionally required privilege and that the Fourth Amendment barred the use of illegally obtained evidence.

Why is illegally obtained evidence admissible in court?

Why were these laws put into place? Illegally Obtained Evidence Is Unconstitutional. The #1 reason why these laws were established is because policy makers realized that allowing illegally obtained evidence to be permissible in a court case went against a citizen's constitutional rights.

Which U.S. Supreme Court made the exclusionary rule applicable to criminal prosecutions at the state level quizlet?

Mapp v. OhioIn reversing the conviction, the Supreme Court effectively created the exclusionary rule. Then, in 1961, the U.S. Supreme Court made the exclusionary rule applicable to the states with its decision in Mapp v. Ohio.Feb 4, 2019

Is illegally obtained evidence admissible in court?

Private search doctrine: Evidence unlawfully obtained from the defendant by a private person is admissible. The exclusionary rule is designed to protect privacy rights, with the Fourth Amendment applying specifically to government officials.

Does exclusionary rule apply to civil cases?

rule seeks to protect that right by excluding from trial any evidence obtained through an unconstitutional search or seizure. exclusionary rule applies only in criminal trials. ... relative costs and benefits, certain jurisdictions have declined to apply the exclusionary rule to civil forfeiture proceedings.

Does the exclusionary rule apply to Miranda violations?

The rule that provides for excluding evidence obtained in violation of Miranda rights is known as the exclusionary rule. ... Evidence obtained in violation of Miranda rights sometimes may be admitted at trial if an exception applies, assuming that the evidence is not inadmissible for another reason.Oct 18, 2021

What does the exclusionary rule do quizlet?

The Exclusionary Rule, which prohibits the use of evidence obtained as a result of unreasonable search and seizure, is applicable to state criminal proceedings. ... -Evidence illegally obtained by federal officers was held to be excluded in all federal criminal prosecutions.

What is good faith exception?

Good faith exception: This applies to officers who had a reasonable, good-faith belief that they were acting according to legal authority, such as by relying on a search warrant that is later found to have been legally defective. This exception does not apply if:#N#No reasonable officer would rely on the affidavit underlying the warrant;#N#The warrant is defective on its face;#N#The warrant was obtained by fraud;#N#The magistrate judge “wholly abandoned his judicial role;” or#N#The warrant was improperly executed 1 No reasonable officer would rely on the affidavit underlying the warrant; 2 The warrant is defective on its face; 3 The warrant was obtained by fraud; 4 The magistrate judge “wholly abandoned his judicial role;” or 5 The warrant was improperly executed

Why was Mapp arrested?

Consequently, Mapp was arrested because possession of pornography was a crime in Ohio then. Following a conviction, Mapp argued on appeal that the warrant was fake and that law enforcement’s decision to enter the home without justification violated Mapp’s constitutional right. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Mapp.

What was the significance of Weeks v. United States?

The 1914 case of Weeks v. United States was a landmark case that laid down the basis for the exclusionary rule. The case involves Fremont Weeks, who was believed to have transported lottery tickets through the mail in violation of the Criminal Code. In response, law enforcement arrested Weeks and searched his office.

What is the exception to the Exclusionary Rule?

Exceptions to the Exclusionary Rule. Inevitable discovery rule: This includes evidence that would have been inevitably discovered through lawful means. It is similar to the independent source doctrine. Independent source doctrine: This applies to evidence initially discovered during, or as a consequence of, an illegal search, ...

What is independent source doctrine?

Independent source doctrine: This applies to evidence initially discovered during, or as a consequence of, an illegal search, but that same evidence was later obtained independently from activities untainted by the initial illegality.

When was the exclusionary rule extended?

As a result of Weeks and Wolf, forms of the exclusionary rule existed in several states for many decades. In 1961, however, the rule was extended ...

What is Neal Davis Law Firm?

At the Neal Davis Law Firm, we have a proven track record of suppressing evidence, even in the most serious cases such as first-degree drug cases and marijuana grow house cases. Contact our Houston criminal defense lawyers if you've been charged with a crime to determine if federal or State exclusionary rules apply to your case. We can ensure the best possible outcome in your case.

Why is evidence suppressed?

In some cases, evidence used by the prosecution may be suppressed or excluded from a trial because it was obtained illegally or unlawfully. This law is called "the exclusionary rule" and it can play a vital role in your case.

What to do when your rights are violated?

When your rights are violated, one remedy is throwing out the evidence. If you've been charged with a drug crime or other criminal offense, then you're in for the fight of your life. Your job, reputation and freedom are on the line, so every bit of evidence used against you should be closely examined by your defense attorney. ...

When was the exclusionary rule established?

The United States Supreme Court firmly established the exclusionary rule in 1914 in Weeks v. United States as a remedy for unlawful searches or seizures. The "exclusionary rule" requires that evidence obtained in violation of the law must be suppressed or excluded. Most often, the exclusionary rule involves constitutional violations, ...

Why is the exclusionary rule important?

The rationale for the exclusionary rule is to deter police from conducting unconstitutional searches or seizures, or illegally obtaining confessions. As the saying goes, "the criminal must go free if the constable blunders.". Without the exclusionary rule, police would have no reason to follow the rules.

What is the exclusionary rule in Texas?

The Exclusionary Rule in Texas. Texas provides even greater protection to defendants under the exclusionary rule. Under Texas law, defendants prosecuted in State court have much greater protection than in federal court.

What is the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure?

Supreme Court. Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 38.23 states: (a) No evidence obtained by an officer or other person in violation of any provisions of the Constitution or laws of the State of Texas, ...

Fruit of the Poisonous Tree

This whole production goes by the charming legal name of “fruit of the poisonous tree.” It is a legal doctrine in place to prevent the basic rights of any suspect from being violated. The poisonous tree is the violation of the Constitutional rights. The fruit refers to the evidence collected in violation of said rights.

Exclusionary Rule Exceptions

The exclusionary rule is not meant to apply to an extent that justice cannot be served. Accordingly, there are exceptions to the exclusionary rule:

Take Away

All persons in this country, no matter how apparently guilty, are protected by the U.S. Constitution. If your rights are violated in the course of your arrest, you may have valid reasons to have evidence against you omitted from your trial.

What is the exclusionary rule?

The “exclusionary rule” allows judges in criminal cases to disregard (“exclude”) evidence that has been illegally obtained by police. Police are required to adhere to the Fourth Amendment ‘s prohibition against unreasonable searches and seizures when conducting searches. In general, police are required to secure a Colorado search warrant prior ...

What is a search area?

the search area is a vehicle as long as the police have probable cause to believe the car contains evidence of a crime (“the automobile exception”); and/or. the search is a “stop and frisk” of a person the police reasonably suspect has committed a crime.

Pre-Sentence Report

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The exclusionary rule states that illegally-obtained evidence and statements obtained through an illegal interrogation, in violation of the Fourth, Fifth, or Sixth Amendmentof the United States Constitution, are inadmissible at the criminal trial of a person whose rights were violated. In basic terms, the illegally obtained evide…
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The History of The Exclusionary Rule

  • The 1914 case of Weeks v. United Stateswas a landmark case that laid down the basis for the exclusionary rule. The case involves Fremont Weeks, who was believed to have transported lottery tickets through the mail in violation of the Criminal Code. In response, law enforcement arrested Weeks and searched his office. Based on this evidence, Weeks was convicted. During a subsequ…
See more on federalcriminallawcenter.com

Exceptions to The Exclusionary Rule

  1. Inevitable discovery rule:This includes evidence that would have been inevitably discovered through lawful means. It is similar to the independent source doctrine.
  2. Independent source doctrine:This applies to evidence initially discovered during, or as a consequence of, an illegal search, but that same evidence was later obtained independently from activities...
  1. Inevitable discovery rule:This includes evidence that would have been inevitably discovered through lawful means. It is similar to the independent source doctrine.
  2. Independent source doctrine:This applies to evidence initially discovered during, or as a consequence of, an illegal search, but that same evidence was later obtained independently from activities...
  3. Knock and announce:This rule states that when an officer is executing a search warrant, he or she generally must not forcefully enter a residence, but instead first knock, identify him or herself a...
  4. Attenuation principal:Evidence may be permitted if the connection between the evidence and the illegal means by which it was obtained is remote and attenuated.

Speak with A Federal Attorney

  • If you have been convicted of a crime and believe that the exclusionary rule applies to your case, in order to prevent evidence from being used against you, please contact the attorneys at Shein & Brandenburg. Our dedicated team will analyze your case and if evidence was illegally obtained we will work to exclude it from your case.
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