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Miller v. United States, 357 U.S. 301 (1958)
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General SummaryThis case is from a collection containing the full text of over 16,000 Supreme Court cases from 1793 to the present. The body of Supreme Court decisions are, effectively, the final interpretation of the Constitution. Only an amendment to the Constitution can permanently overturn an interpretation and this has happened only four times in American history.
Miller v. United States, 357 U.S. 301 (1958)
Miller v. United States No. 126 Argued January 28, 1958 Decided June 23, 1958 357 U.S. 301
CERTIORARI TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA CIRCUIT
Syllabus
In the District of Columbia, officers without a warrant knocked on the door of petitioner’s apartment and, upon his inquiry, "Who’s there?" replied in a low voice, "Police." Petitioner opened the door, but quickly tried to close it, whereupon the officers broke the door, entered, arrested petitioner and seized marked bills which were later admitted as evidence over petitioner’s objection at a trial in which he was convicted of violations of the narcotics laws.
Held: petitioner could not lawfully be arrested in his home by officers breaking in without first giving him notice of their authority and purpose, the arrest was unlawful, the evidence seized was inadmissible, and the conviction is reversed. Pp. 302-314.
(a) The validity of an arrest without a warrant for violation of federal law by local peace officers is to be determined by reference to local law. Pp. 305-306.
(b) Under District of Columbia law, peace officers, otherwise authorized to break the door of a home to make an arrest, may do so only if denied admittance after notice of their authority and purpose. Pp. 306-310.
(c) Since no express announcement was made, and since the evidence in this case was not sufficient to prove that petitioner knew the purpose of the arresting officers, the arrest was unlawful. Pp. 310-313.
100 U.S.App.D.C. 302, 244 F. 2d 750, reversed.
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Chicago: U.S. Supreme Court, "Syllabus," Miller v. United States, 357 U.S. 301 (1958) in 357 U.S. 301 357 U.S. 302. Original Sources, accessed November 25, 2024, http://originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=8INGN3I989E6WRU.
MLA: U.S. Supreme Court. "Syllabus." Miller v. United States, 357 U.S. 301 (1958), in 357 U.S. 301, page 357 U.S. 302. Original Sources. 25 Nov. 2024. http://originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=8INGN3I989E6WRU.
Harvard: U.S. Supreme Court, 'Syllabus' in Miller v. United States, 357 U.S. 301 (1958). cited in 1958, 357 U.S. 301, pp.357 U.S. 302. Original Sources, retrieved 25 November 2024, from http://originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=8INGN3I989E6WRU.
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