Weeks vs. United States 1914
DETAILS OF THE CASE:
Police unlawfully obtained evidence in Weeks home that was eventually used to convict him of transporting lottery tickets via mail. Weeks then proceeded to take action against police and requested for the return of his belongings.
CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTION:
Did the search and seizure of Weeks' home violate the Fourth Amendment?
DECISION AND LASTING EFFECT:
Unanimous. All for Weeks. The court decided that it was indeed unconstitutional for the police to have seized evidence without a search warrant, violating his rights. Also, by the police refusing to return his belongings, they violated his Fourth Amendment Rights. This was the first application of what would eventually become known as the ‘exclusionary rule”.
Police unlawfully obtained evidence in Weeks home that was eventually used to convict him of transporting lottery tickets via mail. Weeks then proceeded to take action against police and requested for the return of his belongings.
CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTION:
Did the search and seizure of Weeks' home violate the Fourth Amendment?
DECISION AND LASTING EFFECT:
Unanimous. All for Weeks. The court decided that it was indeed unconstitutional for the police to have seized evidence without a search warrant, violating his rights. Also, by the police refusing to return his belongings, they violated his Fourth Amendment Rights. This was the first application of what would eventually become known as the ‘exclusionary rule”.