Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/12pdf/11-1425_cb8e.pdf
Page Number: 40.0

Cite as:  569 U. S. ____ (2013) 

11 

Opinion of ROBERTS, C. J. 

time to seek out a magistrate and secure a warrant.”  384 
U. S.,  at  771.    It  did  so  in  an  era  when  cell  phones  and
e-mail  were  unknown.    It  follows  quite  naturally  that  if
cell phones and e-mail mean that there is time to contact 
a magistrate and secure a warrant, that must be done.  At 
the  same  time,  there  is  no  need  to  jettison  the  well-
established  exception  for  the  imminent  destruction  of 
evidence,  when  the  officers  are  in  a  position  to  do  some-
thing about it. 

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* 
Because  the  Missouri  courts  did  not  apply  the  rule  I
describe above, and because this Court should not do so in 
the  first  instance,  I  would  vacate  and  remand  for  further 
proceedings in the Missouri courts. 

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