Which case established the general exclusionary rule?

Which case established the general exclusionary rule?

• A. Weeks v. U.S.
• B. Mapp v. Ohio
• C. California v. Greenwood
• D. U.S. v. Leon

Answer: (A)

The main idea tested is the rule that evidence obtained in violation of the Fourth Amendment cannot be used in court. Weeks v. United States is the case that first declared this rule for federal prosecutions, establishing the general exclusionary rule at the federal level. It created the remedy of suppressing illegally obtained evidence from federal trials to deter unlawful police conduct. Later, Mapp v. Ohio extended that same principle to apply to state courts, making the protection nationwide. The other cases deal with different aspects: California v. Greenwood addresses searches of garbage, and U.S. v. Leon introduces the good-faith exception. So Weeks v. United States is the case that established the general exclusionary rule.

The main idea tested is the rule that evidence obtained in violation of the Fourth Amendment cannot be used in court. Weeks v. United States is the case that first declared this rule for federal prosecutions, establishing the general exclusionary rule at the federal level. It created the remedy of suppressing illegally obtained evidence from federal trials to deter unlawful police conduct. Later, Mapp v. Ohio extended that same principle to apply to state courts, making the protection nationwide. The other cases deal with different aspects: California v. Greenwood addresses searches of garbage, and U.S. v. Leon introduces the good-faith exception. So Weeks v. United States is the case that established the general exclusionary rule.