Weeks v. United States, Supreme Court, 1914

Facts of the Case

Fremont Weeks was arrested by federal agents at his place of employment for using the mail to transport lottery tickets, which was illegal under federal law. Without a search warrant, federal officers entered Weeks’s home and seized papers and letters that were later used to convict him. Weeks argued that the warrantless seizure of his private documents violated his Fourth Amendment rights. He filed a motion for the return of his property and for the exclusion of the evidence obtained from his home.

Constitutional Question

Did the warrantless search and seizure of Weeks’s private documents violate the Fourth Amendment?

Arguments

For Weeks:

• The Fourth Amendment protects individuals against unreasonable searches and seizures, requiring a warrant supported by probable cause for any search of a person’s home.
• The federal agents violated Weeks’s constitutional rights by conducting a search and seizure without a warrant.
• Evidence obtained through an unconstitutional search and seizure should be excluded from trial to prevent the government from benefiting from its illegal actions.

For the United States:

• The search and seizure were necessary to prevent the destruction of evidence related to Weeks’s criminal activities.
• The exclusion of evidence would hinder law enforcement’s ability to effectively investigate and prosecute crimes.
• The officers acted in good faith and within their discretion to gather necessary evidence.

The Decision

The Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision, ruled in favor of Weeks. The Court held that the warrantless search and seizure of Weeks’s private documents violated the Fourth Amendment. Justice William R. Day, writing for the majority, emphasized that the Fourth Amendment’s protection against unreasonable searches and seizures is a fundamental right that requires strict adherence. The Court introduced the “exclusionary rule,” which mandates that evidence obtained through unconstitutional searches and seizures cannot be used in federal court.

Significance

Weeks v. United States is a foundational case in Fourth Amendment jurisprudence, establishing the exclusionary rule at the federal level. This ruling set a precedent for the protection of individual privacy rights against government intrusion and ensured that evidence obtained in violation of constitutional rights would be inadmissible in federal courts. The exclusionary rule aimed to deter unlawful police conduct and uphold the integrity of the judicial process. Weeks v. United States laid the groundwork for subsequent decisions expanding the application of the exclusionary rule to state courts and further refining Fourth Amendment protections.