Maryland v. Buie
"Maryland v. Buie" is a significant Supreme Court case that addresses the legal boundaries of police conduct during warrantless searches of a suspect's home. The case established a two-stage test for conducting "protective sweeps" to ensure the safety of law enforcement officers and others present. The first stage permits police to search areas immediately adjacent to where an arrest is made, such as closets or similar spaces, to prevent potential threats. The second stage allows officers to extend their search to other areas if they have reasonable belief that a dangerous person could be hiding there. The ruling reflects a balance between individual rights and the need for police safety during arrests. The decision sparked dissent among some justices, highlighting the complexities involved in search and seizure law. Understanding this case is important for grasping the evolving nature of Fourth Amendment protections in the context of law enforcement practices.
Maryland v. Buie
Date: February 8, 1990
Citation: 494 U.S. 325
Issue: Search and seizure
Significance: The Supreme Court’s decision established rules for protective searches during an arrest.
A 7-2 majority of the Supreme Court created a two-stage test to determine when police officers may make a warrantless “protective sweep” of the premises as a part of an arrest of a suspect in his or her home to ensure safety of the police and others. The first stage says the police may check closets and any spaces immediately adjacent to the location of the arrest to protect against hidden attacks. The second stage says they may search other areas where a person could be found only if a reasonably prudent officer believed those areas harbored a person dangerous to the police or others. Justice Byron R. White wrote the opinion for the Court with Justices John Paul Stevens and Anthony M. Kennedy concurring. Justices William J. Brennan, Jr., and Thurgood Marshall dissented.
