Criminal Procedure: Key Supreme Court Cases and Fourth Amendment Principles

Chapter 1

Gideon v. Wainwright

Right to counsel applies to states (incorporation).

Miranda v. Arizona

Miranda warnings required before custodial interrogation.

Chapter 2 - Remedies & Force

Weeks v. United States

Evidence seized without a warrant by federal officers cannot be used in federal court (birth of exclusionary rule).

Mapp v. Ohio

Exclusionary rule applies to the states.

Silverthorne Lumber Co. v. United States

Created "fruit of the poisonous tree" doctrine.

Elkins v. United States

Ended "silver platter doctrine."

United States v. Leon

Good faith exception to exclusionary rule.

Heien v. North Carolina

Reasonable mistakes of law can still be valid under 4th Amendment.

Nix v. Williams

Inevitable discovery exception.

Tennessee v. Garner

Deadly force only if suspect poses serious threat.

Graham v. Connor

Use of force must be objectively reasonable under 4th Amendment.

Plumhoff v. Rickard

Police may continue shooting until a threat ends; officers protected by qualified immunity.

Chapter 3 - Fourth Amendment Basics

Katz v. United States

4th Amendment protects people, not places; reasonable expectation of privacy.

Hoffa v. United States

No expectation of privacy in conversations with informants ("false friend" doctrine).

Florida v. Jardines

Drug-sniffing dog on porch = search under 4th Amendment.

Kyllo v. United States

Thermal imaging of home = search requiring a warrant.

United States v. Jones

GPS tracker on car = search.

Terry v. Ohio

Stop and frisk allowed with reasonable suspicion.

California v. Hodari D.

A person fleeing is not "seized" until physically restrained.

Illinois v. Gates

Probable cause is based on "totality of the circumstances."

Maryland v. Pringle

Probable cause exists when reasonable person believes crime occurred, particularized to suspect.

Chapter 4 - Warrants

Payton v. New York

Warrantless entry into a home for arrest is unconstitutional (need warrant).

Steagald v. United States

To arrest someone in a third party's home, need both arrest warrant and search warrant.

Atwater v. City of Lago Vista

4th Amendment allows arrest for minor offenses like seatbelt violation.

Hudson v. Michigan

Violation of "knock & announce" rule does not require exclusion of evidence.

Wilson v. Layne

Police may not bring media into home during warrant execution.

Missouri v. McNeely

Warrant generally required for DUI blood draws.

Olmstead v. United States

Warrantless wiretap once considered constitutional under trespass doctrine.

Berger v. United States

Warrant required for electronic surveillance (wiretapping).

United States v. Knotts

Tracking device allowed if not inside home and warrantless monitoring is limited.