Alderman v. United States (1967)
- Docket
- 133
- Decided
- 1967-01-01
- Category
- General
Summary
Question: (1) Do the petitioners have standing to object to surveillance evidence without prior screening in camera ? (2) Must evidence be excluded from trial if the government unlawfully overheard the petitioners' conversations or conversations occurring on the petitioners' premises, even if they were not present, or did not participate in, the conversations? Conclusion: Yes and Yes. In a majority opinion speaking for himself and four other members of the Court, Justice Byron R. White held that "conversations as well as property are excludable from the criminal trial when they are found to be the fruits of an illegal invasion of the home." Moreover, continued White, "surveillance records as to which any petitioner has standing to object should be turned over to him without being screened in camera by the trial judge.