CRJ 550 Active Learning 1 (1)
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Arizona Western College *
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1310
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Law
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Nov 24, 2024
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docx
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Uploaded by JudgeTitaniumStingray37
CRJ 550 Active Learning 1
Before reviewing the case of United States v. Leon (1984), my initial considerations as a
judge would involve assessing the circumstances surrounding the search warrant's invalidity, the
conduct of the officers involved, the potential deterrence impact, and the implications for the
justice system. Considering the Fourth Amendment violation, a minor or technical error might
sway my decision in favor of admissibility. Additionally, if the officers believed in good faith
that the warrant was valid, their genuine mistake would likely support the application of the
"good faith" exception. I would also consider the broader consequences of excluding the
evidence, especially in serious criminal cases where critical evidence could be suppressed.
Following this assessment, I would deliberate the need to balance individual rights and the
overall integrity of the justice system.
In the United States v. Leon (1984) case, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the
government, allowing evidence obtained from an invalid search warrant to be admissible under
the "good faith" exception to the exclusionary rule. The Court emphasized that the purpose of
deterring police misconduct would not be served in cases where officers acted in good faith and
reasonably relied on a flawed search warrant (Peak & Giacomazzi, 2019). Considering the
totality of the circumstances, the Court found that the officers in this specific case had indeed
acted in good faith, supporting their decision.
Upon reflection, my initial considerations align with the Court's decision, as they also
heavily weighed the Fourth Amendment violation, the officers' conduct, deterrence, and the
overall impact on the justice system (O'Brie, 1993). The Court's ruling maintains a delicate
equilibrium between protecting constitutional rights and ensuring the efficiency and fairness of
the legal system. The Court's emphasis on the "good faith" exception in United States v. Leon
strikes a balance between safeguarding individual rights and upholding the proper functioning of
law enforcement. This decision underscores the necessity of ensuring that the exclusionary rule
serves its intended purpose without unduly hindering legitimate law enforcement efforts.
References
O'Brien, S. R. (1993). United States v. Leon and the Freezing of the Fourth Amendment.
NYUL
Rev
., 68, 1305.
Peak, K & Giacomazzi, A (2019).
Justice Administration: Police, Courts, and Corrections
Management
. Pearson
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