United States v. Matlock
United States Supreme Court
415 U.S. 164 (1974)
- Written by Sean Carroll, JD
Facts
William Matlock (defendant) was indicted for robbing a federally insured bank. Matlock shared a room with Gayle Graff in a home rented by Graff’s parents. Law enforcement knew that Matlock lived in the home but did not know in which room. Law enforcement arrived at the home and arrested Matlock in the front yard. The officers proceeded to the home, and Graff consented to a search of the home, including the bedroom that Graff told the officers she shared with Matlock. The officers found incriminating evidence against Matlock. Matlock filed a motion to suppress the evidence. During the suppression hearing, the district court excluded as hearsay Graff’s statement about sharing a bedroom with Matlock and testimony stating that Graff and Matlock held themselves out to be husband and wife to various people. The district court found that the prosecution had failed to prove that Graff’s consent to the search was binding on Matlock. The court of appeals affirmed. The United States Supreme Court granted certiorari.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (White, J.)
Dissent (Brennan, J.)
Dissent (Douglas, J.)
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