Us V. Jones Case Brief Summary
United States v. Jones,
United States Supreme Court (2012)
132 S. Ct. 945
Facts of the Case
Respondent Jones was a subject of a Government investigation in part of a much larger drug trafficking conspiracy. As part of the investigation, FBI agents had obtained a court order to place a GPS tracking device on a vehicle driven by Jones – a Jeep registered to Jone's wife. The court order was issued in the District of Columbia and was set to expire 10 days after it was signed by the judge. On Day 11, the Government attached the GPS device underneath the carriage of the Jeep on a public roadway in Maryland. Effectively, the government was acting outside of its authorization. The device reported GPS tracker data for 28 days after the installation to a Government computer, providing location information for several weeks. This evidence was used against Jones resulting in a hung trial. Jone's was retried and later convicted. Jone appealed, and the D.C. Circuit Court reversed the lower court's finding, citing the evidence was obtained in violation …show more content…
Decisions
In the case of US v. Jones, the installation was held to be in violation of the 4th amendment and a warrant was required. In a 9 – 0 decision, the Supreme Court of the United States unanimously agreed with the lower court's opinion and held the installation of a tracking device, absent a search warrant or any exigent circumstances, constitutes an unlawful search under the Fourth Amendment. Judge Scalia delivered the opinion of the Court. While divided on the interpretation of search theory and providing the basis behind their decision, the remaining Justices concurred with the majority opinion.
United States Supreme Court (2012)
132 S. Ct. 945
Facts of the Case
Respondent Jones was a subject of a Government investigation in part of a much larger drug trafficking conspiracy. As part of the investigation, FBI agents had obtained a court order to place a GPS tracking device on a vehicle driven by Jones – a Jeep registered to Jone's wife. The court order was issued in the District of Columbia and was set to expire 10 days after it was signed by the judge. On Day 11, the Government attached the GPS device underneath the carriage of the Jeep on a public roadway in Maryland. Effectively, the government was acting outside of its authorization. The device reported GPS tracker data for 28 days after the installation to a Government computer, providing location information for several weeks. This evidence was used against Jones resulting in a hung trial. Jone's was retried and later convicted. Jone appealed, and the D.C. Circuit Court reversed the lower court's finding, citing the evidence was obtained in violation …show more content…
Decisions
In the case of US v. Jones, the installation was held to be in violation of the 4th amendment and a warrant was required. In a 9 – 0 decision, the Supreme Court of the United States unanimously agreed with the lower court's opinion and held the installation of a tracking device, absent a search warrant or any exigent circumstances, constitutes an unlawful search under the Fourth Amendment. Judge Scalia delivered the opinion of the Court. While divided on the interpretation of search theory and providing the basis behind their decision, the remaining Justices concurred with the majority opinion.