Malley v. Briggs
United States Supreme Court
475 U.S. 335, 106 S. Ct. 1092, 89 L. Ed. 2d 271 (1986)
- Written by Salina Kennedy, JD
Facts
Edward Malley (defendant) was a Rhode Island state trooper in charge of investigating Paul Driscoll. Pursuant to the investigation, Malley wiretapped Driscoll’s phone. The wiretap intercepted two conversations between Driscoll and a third party. Malley interpreted the conversations to indicate that Jimmy Briggs (plaintiff) was present at two parties where marijuana was smoked. Malley submitted a warrant request, accompanied by a supporting affidavit summarizing the two intercepted phone calls, to a state court judge. The judge issued the arrest warrant, and Briggs was arrested. A grand jury later declined to indict Briggs. Briggs then brought an action against Malley pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, alleging that Malley’s warrant request had not been supported by probable cause and thus had violated Briggs’s Fourth Amendment rights. The district court entered a directed verdict for Malley, and the court of appeals reversed. The United States Supreme Court granted certiorari.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (White, J.)
Concurrence/Dissent (Powell, J.)
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