mar 3, 1987 - ARIZONA V. HICKS, 1987

Description:

After officers responded to a gunshot, they conducted a search without a warrant of Hicks' apartment and saw stereo equipment they assumed was stolen. They moved the stereo to obtain serial numbers, called headquarters to investigate, and concluded that the stereo had been stolen.

The Supreme Court had to decide if the search of the stereo was reasonable under the Fourth Amendment.

The Court held that this search was not reasonable. Although the officers were "lawfully situated", Justice Scalia upheld the "plain view" doctrine from Coolidge V. New Hampshire which allows officers to seize evidence in plain view, and stated that the search of the stereo did not invoke this doctrine as further investigation was needed to determine that the stereo was stolen.

(Lippman, Criminal Procedure, pg. 59)
(https://www.oyez.org/cases/1986/85-1027)

Added to timeline:

Date: