Legal Document

362 U.S. 257 80 Supreme Court Reporter 725 4 United States Reports Lawyer’s Edition 2d Series KF101.8 U54 697 Cecil JONES, Petitioner,v.UNITED STATES of America. Number 69. Argued Jan. 21, 1960. Decided March 28, Mr. Louis Henkin, Philadelphia, Pa., for petitioner. James W. Knapp, Washington, D.C., respondent. Justice FRANKFURTER delivered the opinion Court. 1 This is a prosecution violation federal narcotics laws. In first count two-count indictment petitioner was charged with having 'purchased, sold, dispensed and distributed' in 26 Code KF62 § 4704(a), Annotated KF65 U5 that is, not or from 'original stamped package.' second under 21 174, 'facilitated concealment sale of' same narcotics, knowing them to have been imported illegally into States. Petitioner found guilty on both counts sentenced seven years' imprisonment. The Appeals, one judge dissenting, affirmed conviction. 104 U.S.App.D.C. 345, 262 Federal Reporter, 2nd 234. Since case presented important questions administration criminal justice, more particularly defendant's standing challenge legality search circumstances this case, as well particular should be established, we granted certiorari. 359 988, 79 1125, 3 978. 2 Both statutory provisions which prosecuted permit conviction upon proof possession absence appropriate stamps. Possession basis Government's against evidence him may briefly summarized. He arrested an apartment District Columbia by officers, who were executing warrant narcotics. Those officers without stamps, paraphernalia bird's nest awning just outside window apartment. Another officer, stationed building, had short time before seen put his hand awning. Upon discovery admitted some these he living Prior trial duly moved suppress obtained through execution ground issued showing probable cause. Government challenged petitioner's make motion because alleged neither ownership seized articles nor interest greater than 'invitee guest.' agreed take issue standing. Only gave evidence. On direct examination testified belonged friend, Evans, given use it, key, himself day arrest. cross-examination suit shirt at apartment, home elsewhere, paid nothing Evans let it 'as friend,' slept there 'maybe night,' away Philadelphia about five days. Solely lack district denied suppress. When came different judge, renewed prior ruling. An unsuccessful objection made when items offered trial. 5 affirming Appeals lacked standing, but proceeded rule even if find would hold lawfully received. A Court, namely, method illegal, considered rejected, while contention below, insufficient cause warrant, rejected discussion. 6 decided reference Rule 41(e) Rules Criminal Procedure, 18 direction governing suppression acquired conditions validating search. It desirable set forth Rule. 7 'A person aggrieved unlawful seizure move court property return anything so (1) (2) its face, (3) described (4) believing existence grounds issued, (5) executed. shall receive any fact necessary decision motion. If restored unless otherwise subject lawful detention admissible hearing also where had. opportunity therefor did exist defendant aware motion, discretion entertain hearing.' 8 order qualify 'person seizure' must victim seizure, whom directed, distinguished claims prejudice only gathered consequence directed someone else. applies general principle party will heard claim constitutional protection 'belongs class whose sake given.' People State N.Y. ex rel. Hatch versus Reardon, 204 152, 160, 27 188, 190, 51 L.Ed. 415. restrictions searches seizures obviously designed official invasion privacy security property. They are exclusionary admission kinds deemed inherently unreliable prejudicial. exclusion trials competent officials Fourth Amendment means making effective privacy. 9 Ordinarily, then, entirely proper require seeks suppressing relevant allege, allegation disputed establish, But prosecutions like special problem. To establish 'standing,' Courts generally required movant either owned possessed substantial possessory premises searched. charges those present established solely seeking comply what has conventional requirement forced allege facts tend, indeed sufficient, convict him. At least, such placed criminally tendentious position explaining premises. faced, chance allegations used trial, although they no inevitable holding, encouragement perjure 'standing' maintaining defense charge possession. 10 dilemma thus created defendants cases pointedly Judge Learned Hand: 11 'Men wince admitting owners, possession, contraband property; wish secure remedies possessor, avoid perils part; equivocation serve. come victims, role, enough detail cast question. petitioners bar shrank predicament; obliged choose horn dilemma.' Connolly Medalie, Cir., 58 629, 630. 12 Following several pinioned within dilemma. See, e.g., Scoggins States, 92 29, 30, 202 211, 212; Eversole, 209 766, 768; Accardo 101 162, 163—164, 247 568, 569—570; Grainger 158 236. held otherwise. Dean, D.C.Mass., 50 905, 906. urges us follow body Appeals' decisions lower courts, including courts right barring challenging failure, suppress, searched 13 Hand's inescapable. presupposes requirements do compelling. Two separate lines thought effectively sustain case. element caused dilemma, iE., convicts confers eliminates necessity preliminary seized, ordinarily challenged. Even turning illicit legally requisite here satisfied, need extensive below. 14 As ground, persuaded consideration: contrary, failure acknowledge prevented attack search, advantage contradictory positions Petitioner's flows Yet fruits depends, time. subjected penalties meted out lawless refusing situation. consonant amenities, mildly, justice sanction squarely assertions power Government. convicted suffices give fair rational conception 41(e). 15 argument contrary essentially invokes elegantia juris. normal procedural orderliness, 41(e), then knowledge base argues therefore affirmative wait rest provision requiring crystallization procedure, eliminate disputes over police conduct immediately question guilt. See Nardone 308 338, 341 342, 60 266, 267—268, 84 307; Segurola 275 106, 111—112, 48 77, 79, 72 186; Agnello 269 20, 34, 46 4, 7, 70 145; Adams New York, 192 585, 24 372, 575. codified, rigid one, 'the (to suppress) qualification proves dealing carrying social policy narrow, finicky requirement. underlying likewise precludes application compel injustice internally inconsistent itself very real sense revealed applied allow deprive bring framing terms, prosecuting possession.1 16 sustaining testimony sufficient aggrieved' their That permission was. asserts does contend confer draw distinctions among various classes possessors, deeming some, 'guests' invitees' 'use' premises, too 'tenuous' concededly 'some measure control' 'temporary presence,' conceding others, 'realistic sense, dominion apartment' 'domiciled' there, Petitioner, insisted, own falls former class. 17 While never passed maintain closely follows prevailing view courts. 'invitees' (e.g., Gaskins 95 35, 218 47, 48; Gibson 81, 84, 149 381, 384; re Nassetta, 125 924; Jones 234), employees, though 'control' 'occupancy' 'possession' 630; Conoscente, 63 811). quantum being, variously, 'ownership premises' Jeffers 88 58, 61, 187 498, 501, 342 48, 93, 96 59), 'lessee licensee' (United De Bousi, 32 902, 903), 'dominion' (McMillan 60; Steeber 198 615, 617, 33 American Law Reports, 1425). We lightly depart course persuaded, however, unnecessary ill-advised import law surrounding free unreasonable subtle distinctions, developed refined common evolving private properly which, almost other branch law, shaped validity largely historical. area derive, due consideration led discarding th homeland law. Occupiers' Liability Act, 1957, Eliz. 2, chapter 31, Reform Committee, Third Report, Cmd. 9305. Distinctions between 'lessee,' 'licensee,' 'invitee' 'guest,' often gossamer strength, ought determinative fashioning procedures ultimately referable safeguards. inappropriate maritime torts Kermarec Compagnie Generale, 358 625, 630—632, 406, 409—410, 550. duty ordinary care rightfully ship, regardless whether 'licensee' rather 'invitee.' 'For admiralty late date conceptual foreign traditions simplicity practicality.' U.S., page 631, 410. fortiori bow comport our justly proud protections accorded crime. No rigorous enforcement hampered recognizing anyone legitimately occurs way proposed avail who, virtue wrongful presence, cannot invoke Evans' consent presence entitled merits adjudicated. 19 consider illegal. issuing warrant. raised Commissioner Didone, sole affidavit signed Didone. parties urge decide here, remanding pass it. think 20 margin.2 Didone member Narcotic Squad Columbia. His claimed swore information, unnamed, another 'were involved narcotic traffic' 'kept ready supply heroin hand' informant purchased 'on many occasions,' last for. 'has information undersigned previous occasion correct,' '(t)his information' regarding squad 'other sources implicated being users founded oath believed 'that now drugs secreated (sic) above Jones.' was, claimed, affiant's personal observations rested wholly hearsay. Nathanson 290 41, 54 11, 78 159, merely states belief stating based. true affiant. not, sets relating another. score, long crediting hearsay presented. 22 testing sufficiency officer's action rely received informant, observations, informant's statement reasonably corroborated matters knowledge. Draper 307, 329, 327. upheld arrest peddling description appearance, morning (matters themselves totally innocuous) observations. officer act acting prove Quoting Brinegar 338 172, 69 1302, 1309, 93 1879, said 'goes much far confusing disregarding difference guilt show * There large two things proved (guilt cause) quanta modes them.' pages 311—312, 332. dictum Grau 287 124, 128, 53 38, 40, 77 212, expressly Draper. 312, note Hand Heitner, 105, 106. 23 What ruled acts governs here. incriminating hearsay, incongruous judicially persuasive character justified sought, warrants could seldom legitimatize conduct, resort discouraged. Due regard safeguards arrests counsels contrary. doubtful clearly convincing immediate most weighed independent judicial decision, police, govern liberty invaded. conclude say little accepting acted improperly. convinced might withheld probably sufficient. suggested doubted Didone's word. Thus assume told, bought selling Had all, enough; story. previously accurate information. story And known user Corroboration reduced chances reckless prevaricating tale; less scepticism history. 25 defective informants produced, state names, undertake swear results investigation informants. objections misrepresented relevant. Such made. All asked properly, did. that, alone render insufficient, affidavits personally inquiries additional executed conformity 3109, 3109.3 ample so, refused reason fully it; us. open decision. Unlike cause, can satisfactorily resolved record Miller 357 301, 1190, 1332, demonstrated, depends conflict matter. yield suggestion ignore version warrant's favorable prosecution. vacate remand light 28 Vacated remanded. 29 DOUGLAS. 30 & N Dec. Immigration Nationality Decisions join part holds dissent ruling 'probable cause' issuance finds support my gives, think, dimensions age faceless informers reintroduced society alarming ways. Sometimes anonymity defended revelation names ruin counter-espionage cripple underground network agents. magistrate nondelegable. home. convinced; go except emergency situations. know propose act. Unless requirement, makes judgment all facts, tends become tool interests. Though honest aims worthy, history shows guardians protects. Ordinarily opposing basing Court's hear during invoked. must, considered. 'Affidavit Support Commissioners Search Warrant Premises 1436 Meridian Place, N.W., 36, spaces Occupied Earline Richardson. 'In afternoon Tuesday, August I, Detective Thomas Jr. Richardson traffic kept mentioned source relates aforementioned persons person, pillow, dresser ledge goes relate occasions gone abovementioned places. 1957. 'Both familiar members Squad. display needle marks same. 'This traffic, conducted Richardson, 'Because opening paragraph correct, believe 'Det. Jr., Squad, MPDC. 'Subscribed sworn me August, 'James KF105 F3 Splain, Commissioner, D.C.' 'The break outer inner door house, therein, execute if, after notice authority purpose, admittance liberate aiding warrant.' (104 237.)

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