United States Supreme Court Cases & Opinions

U.S. Supreme Court

Wolf v. Colorado, 338 U.S. 25 (1949)

Wolf v. Colorado

Nos. 17 and 18

Argued October 19, 1948

Decided June 27, 1949

338 U.S. 25

Syllabus

In a prosecution in a state court for a state crime, the Fourteenth Amendment of the Federal Constitution does not forbid the admission of relevant evidence even though obtained by an unreasonable search and seizure. Pp. 338 U. S. 25-33.

(a) Arbitrary intrusion into privacy by the police is prohibited by the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Pp. 338 U. S. 27-28.

(b) While the doctrine of Weeks v. United States, 232 U. S. 383, making evidence secured in violation of the Fourth Amendment inadmissible in federal courts, is adhered to, it is not imposed on the States by the Fourteenth Amendment. Pp. 338 U. S. 28-33.

117 Colo. 279, 321, 187 P.2d 926, 928, affirmed.

Judgments of conviction in two criminal prosecutions in a state court were sustained by the State Supreme Court against claims of denial of rights under the Federal Constitution. 117 Colo. 279, 321, 187 P.2d 926, 928. This Court granted certiorari. 333 U.S. 879. Affirmed, p. 338 U. S. 33.