Course: Introduction / Procedural Law
U.S. v. Leon (1984) is a landmark SCOTUS decision in which the Court created the “good faith” exception to the exclusionary rule.
Citation: 468 U.S. 897 (1984)
U.S. v. Leon is a landmark Supreme Court decision that established an important exception to the exclusionary rule, which is a legal principle that prohibits the use of evidence obtained through unconstitutional searches and seizures in criminal trials. The case involved a warrant that was later found to be invalid because it lacked probable cause, but the evidence obtained through the warrant was still admitted at trial. The Supreme Court ultimately held that the evidence could be admitted under the “good faith” exception to the exclusionary rule.
The “good faith” exception holds that evidence obtained through an unconstitutional search or seizure may still be admissible if the police officers who conducted the search or seizure did so in good faith reliance on a warrant that was later found to be invalid. The exception was created by the Supreme Court in recognition of the fact that police officers often rely on warrants issued by judges and that it would be unfair to exclude evidence obtained in good faith reliance on a warrant that was later found to be invalid.
In U.S. v. Leon, the Supreme Court held that the “good faith” exception applies in cases where the police officer’s reliance on the warrant was objectively reasonable. In other words, the officers must have acted in a manner that a reasonable person would believe was lawful based on the information that was available to them at the time.
The decision in U.S. v. Leon has been the subject of ongoing debate and criticism. Some critics argue that the “good faith” exception undermines the Fourth Amendment’s protection against unreasonable searches and seizures and encourages police misconduct. They argue that the exception should be narrowly construed and that evidence obtained through unconstitutional searches and seizures should always be excluded from criminal trials.
Others argue that the “good faith” exception is an important tool for law enforcement officials and that it helps to ensure that criminals are held accountable for their actions. They argue that the exception strikes a balance between protecting individual rights and ensuring public safety and that it encourages police officers to seek warrants and follow proper procedures.
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- Criminal Justice | Section 4.5: The Legal Environment of Policing
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On Other Sites
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- Read the Full Text on the Justia Website
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[ Glossary ]
Last Modified: 04/13/2023