United States v. Smith
A plain-English summary from Criminal Defense Resources™, a free resource for pro per/pro se defendants and their families.
General educational information, not legal advice. Not a law firm. This page describes what a court decided in general terms. It does not tell you what to do in any case.
- Decided
- Citation
- 110 F.4th 817 (5th Cir. 2024)
What did the court decide?
The Fifth Circuit held that geofence warrants are modern-day general warrants that violate the Fourth Amendment. But it did not suppress the evidence in that case, because officers relied in good faith on the warrant.
Why does it matter?
It created a split with the Fourth Circuit's panel decision in Chatrie and shows how the good-faith exception can affect the outcome even when a warrant is found unconstitutional.
Where can I read the full opinion?
Read the full opinion on CourtListener →
Always read the full opinion and check whether later cases have limited or changed it. A summary can leave out important details.
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General educational information, not legal advice. Not a law firm.