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Simple English definitions for legal terms

exclusionary rule

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A quick definition of exclusionary rule:

The exclusionary rule is a law that says the government can't use evidence that was gathered in a way that breaks the Constitution. This means that if the police do something wrong when they search or seize something, they can't use what they find in court. There are some exceptions to this rule, like if the police didn't know they were doing something wrong or if they would have found the evidence anyway. The purpose of the rule is to make sure that the police follow the law and to protect people's rights.

A more thorough explanation:

The exclusionary rule is a legal principle that prevents the government from using evidence that was obtained in violation of the United States Constitution. This rule applies to evidence that was gathered through an unreasonable search or seizure, in violation of the Fourth Amendment. It also applies to self-incriminatory statements obtained in violation of the Fifth Amendment and evidence obtained in violation of the Sixth Amendment right to counsel.

If evidence that falls within the scope of the exclusionary rule leads law enforcement to other evidence, which they would not otherwise have located, then the exclusionary rule applies to the newly discovered evidence. This secondarily excluded evidence is called “fruit of the poisonous tree.”

The exclusionary rule is a court-created remedy and deterrent, not an independent constitutional right. Its purpose is to deter law enforcement officers from conducting searches or seizures in violation of the Fourth Amendment and to provide remedies to defendants whose rights have been infringed.

There are several exceptions to the exclusionary rule:

  • Good Faith Exception: Evidence is not excluded if it is obtained by officers who reasonably rely on a search warrant that turns out to be invalid. This exception does not trigger the rule because excluding the evidence would not deter police officers from violating the law in the future.
  • Independent Source Doctrine: Evidence initially obtained during an unlawful search or seizure may later be admissible if the evidence is later obtained through a constitutionally valid search or seizure.
  • Inevitable Discovery Doctrine: This doctrine allows admission of evidence that was discovered in an unlawful search or seizure if it would have been discovered in the same condition anyway, by an independent line of investigation that was already being pursued when the unlawful search or seizure occurred.
  • Attenuation Doctrine: In cases where the relationship between the evidence challenged and the unconstitutional conduct is too remote and attenuated, the evidence may be admissible.
  • Evidence Admissible for Impeachment: The exclusionary rule does not prevent the government from introducing illegally gathered evidence to “impeach,” or attack the credibility of, defendants’ testimony at trial.
  • Qualified Immunity: Due to qualified immunity, the exclusionary rule is often a defendant's only remedy when police officers conduct an unreasonable search or violate their Miranda rights.

For example, the good faith exception allows evidence to be admissible if it is obtained by officers who reasonably rely on a search warrant that turns out to be invalid. This exception does not trigger the exclusionary rule because excluding the evidence would not deter police officers from violating the law in the future.

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KnowledgeableRitzyWasp
22:34
kfc or popeyes
KnowledgeableRitzyWasp
22:34
or korean with gochujang
KnowledgeableRitzyWasp
22:35
i might order some gochujang sauce on amazon and cook some air fried chicken breast filets, they’re really good
KnowledgeableRitzyWasp
22:35
just letting you guys know :)
0:14
Where I can find the definition of the false-endowment?
11:14
@Mohammed: False-endowment?
12:05
guys, im making a public speaking with the topic of personal choice in nuisance. Can you give me what to talk about
babybunny
12:47
what does this mean? you get to pick a topic but it has to be about nuisances?
13:16
Yeah I also don’t know what this means ngl
Obtainingdreams
14:58
Do you think you can use being on the Harvard Wl to ask for more money? Like say you'll withdraw if they give you more?
16:14
@Obtainingdreams: Unlikely
16:19
If 1 in 10 Harvard waitlistees in their class of 2027 get into HLS (average A % off the HLS waitlist), the school is better served by offering that student more $ than offering the other 9 in 10 more $ than they have to and the one that gets into HLS less than they need to
what do you guys think about the HLS WL? DO you think they're gonna give out a decent amount of A's still?
17:15
no
[] ararara
17:38
Thanks JB 🦸‍♀️! For everybody out there stressing law school decisions, hang in there!
What do people think about ND
18:42
@NaughtyTeenyWeenyPebble: Looking at last cycle's stats, 16 people logged the date of their HLS waitlist offer and 6 of those were made by 5/19 (the other 10 came later). It's a small sample, and every cycle is different, but it's entirely possible more WL offers are coming
babybunny
18:52
ban me again, for old times’ sake? 😘
I deposited at Columbia but I just want to know if I should start looking for apartments or if I'm going to get an offer from harvard. so stressful
KnowledgeableRitzyWasp
20:02
you kind of have to be ready to drop everything for harvard while going forward with apartments for columbia
20:50
Is it worth writing a second LOCI for HLS?
KnowledgeableRitzyWasp
21:06
you want to write an loci about once a month
[] abbas24
22:33
best tips for studying for Lsat and Applications going into senior year? feel like im so behind but know thats just my mind
[] abbas24
22:34
also tips while having a lower than outstanding gpa? My records show great progression though
22:47
1. Spend the time on the LSAT early, if you can hit your target score this summer it will free up lots of time for essays etc. later when things are busy
22:50
2. Depending on the schools you're looking at, being at/above LSAT median can be enough. The higher you can get your GPA, the better, but half the class is going to be at/below each median - that's how medians work
22:52
If you're above a median (particularly LSAT median) and the other stat isn't way below, numbers alone won't keep you out. Past that point, softs/essays/recs are what gets you in.
22:54
YMMV, it will matter what "lower than outstanding" means (3.7? 3.3?)
22:59
And what schools you're thinking of
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