Constitutional and Case Law Flashcards

Under the exclusionary rule, evidence obtained from an illegal search is generally what?

Answer: Suppressed and inadmissible at trial

The exclusionary rule bars evidence obtained through unconstitutional searches from being used in the prosecution's case.

The 'fruit of the poisonous tree' doctrine excludes what?

Answer: Evidence derived from an initial illegal act

Wong Sun established that evidence derived from an original constitutional violation is also tainted and excludable.

Under United States v. Leon, the 'good faith' exception allows evidence when officers rely on what?

Answer: A warrant later found defective but reasonably relied upon

Leon allows admission of evidence when officers act in objectively reasonable reliance on a warrant later found invalid.

The 'inevitable discovery' exception applies when the evidence would have been found how?

Answer: Through lawful means independent of the violation

Nix v. Williams permits admission when the evidence inevitably would have been discovered through lawful, independent means.

The 'independent source' doctrine allows evidence first found illegally if it is later obtained how?

Answer: Through a genuinely independent lawful source

Evidence is admissible under the independent source doctrine if it is also obtained through a separate, lawful, untainted source.

Under the 'attenuation' doctrine, illegally obtained evidence may be admitted when the connection to the violation is what?

Answer: Sufficiently remote or broken by intervening events

Attenuation allows evidence when intervening circumstances sufficiently weaken the link between the illegal act and the evidence.

The exclusionary rule's primary purpose is to do what?

Answer: Deter police misconduct

The Supreme Court has stated the exclusionary rule's main purpose is to deter unconstitutional police conduct.