Miller v. United States
Encyclopedia
Miller v. United States, 357 U.S. 301
(1958), was a landmark decision
by the United States Supreme Court, which held that one could not lawfully be arrested in one's home by officers breaking in without first giving one notice of their authority and purpose.
In the District of Columbia, officers without a warrant knocked on the door of William Miller's apartment and upon his inquiry, "Who's there?" replied in a low voice, "Police." Miller opened the door but quickly tried to close it, whereupon the officers broke the door, entered, arrested petitioner and seized marked bill
s which were later admitted as evidence over Miller's objection at a trial in which he was convicted of violations of the narcotics laws.
The Supreme Court ruled that the arrest was unlawful, the evidence seized was inadmissible, and the conviction is reversed.
Case citation
Case citation is the system used in many countries to identify the decisions in past court cases, either in special series of books called reporters or law reports, or in a 'neutral' form which will identify a decision wherever it was reported...
(1958), was a landmark decision
Landmark decision
Landmark court decisions establish new precedents that establish a significant new legal principle or concept, or otherwise substantially change the interpretation of existing law...
by the United States Supreme Court, which held that one could not lawfully be arrested in one's home by officers breaking in without first giving one notice of their authority and purpose.
In the District of Columbia, officers without a warrant knocked on the door of William Miller's apartment and upon his inquiry, "Who's there?" replied in a low voice, "Police." Miller opened the door but quickly tried to close it, whereupon the officers broke the door, entered, arrested petitioner and seized marked bill
Marked bill
Marking bills is a technique used by police to trace and identify money used in illegal activities. The serial numbers of the bills are recorded, and sometimes markings are made on the bank notes themselves ....
s which were later admitted as evidence over Miller's objection at a trial in which he was convicted of violations of the narcotics laws.
The Supreme Court ruled that the arrest was unlawful, the evidence seized was inadmissible, and the conviction is reversed.
See also
- List of United States Supreme Court cases, volume 357
- Ker v. CaliforniaKer v. CaliforniaKer v. California, , was a case before the United States Supreme Court, which incorporated the Fourth Amendment's protections against illegal search and seizure. The case was decided on June 10, 1963, by a vote of 5-4.-Prior history:...
,