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United States v. Edwards

415 U.S. 800, 94 S. Ct. 1234, 39 L. Ed. 2d 771 (1974)

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United States v. Edwards

United States Supreme Court
415 U.S. 800, 94 S. Ct. 1234, 39 L. Ed. 2d 771 (1974)

  • Written by Robert Cane, JD
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Facts

Edwards (defendant) was arrested after he allegedly attempted to break into a post office through a window. Edwards was detained overnight. The morning after his arrest, police gave Edwards substitute clothing and seized his clothing in order to examine it. Police matched paint chips from the clothing to paint on the window at the post office. At trial, evidence of the paint chips from Edwards’s clothing was admitted over an objection that the warrantless seizure of the clothing violated the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution. Edwards was found guilty. The court of appeals reversed. The United States Supreme Court granted certiorari.

Rule of Law

Issue

Holding and Reasoning (White, J.)

Dissent (Stewart, J.)

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