Vale v. Louisiana (1969)
- Docket
- 727
- Decided
- 1969-01-01
Summary
Question: Was the police officer’s warrantless search of Vale’s home an unreasonable search and seizure in violation of the Fourth Amendment? Conclusion: Yes. Justice Potter Stewart, writing for a 6-2 majority, reversed and remanded. The Supreme Court held that the house was not “incident to the arrest” because the arrest took place outside. The State also failed to show evidence of an exceptional situation where a warrantless search would be acceptable. Admitting the narcotics evidence was in error because they were the fruits of an illegal search. Justice Hugo L. Black dissented, arguing that a search is proper when officers reasonably believe that someone might destroy the narcotics evidence if the search were postponed to obtain a warrant. Chief Justice Warren Burger joined in the dissent. Justice Harry A. Blackmun did not participate.