5.4: Illinois v. Gates
PETITIONER RESPONDENT
Illinois Lance Gates, et ux
LOCATION
Residence of Gates
DOCKET NO. DECIDED BY
81-430 Burger Court
LOWER COURT
Supreme Court of Illinois
CITATION
462 US 213 (1983)
ARGUED
Oct 13, 1982
REARGUED
Mar 1. 1983
DECIDED
June 8, 1983
ADVOCATES
Paul P. Biebel, Jr. Reargued the cause for the petitioner
James W . Reilley Reargued the cause for the respondents
Rex E. Lee A rgued the case on re-argument for the United States as amicus curiae urging reversal
Paul B. Biebel Jr. on behalf of petitioner
Facts of the case
The Bloomingdale, Illinois Police Department received an anonymous tip that Lance and Susan Gates were selling drugs out of their home. After observing the Gates's drug smuggling operation in action, police obtained a warrant and upon searching the suspects' car and home uncovered large quantities of marijuana, other contraband, and weapons.
Question
Did the search of the Gates's home violate the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments?
Conclusion
6–3 Decision for Illinois
Majority Opinion by William H. Rehnquist
| FOR | AGAINST |
|---|---|
|
Blackmun White Powell Burger O’Conner Rehnquist |
Marshall Brennan Stevens |
The Court found no constitutional violation and argued that the lower court misapplied the test for probable cause which the Court had announced in Spinelli v. United States (1969) . Justice Rehnquist argued that an informant's veracity, reliability, and basis of knowledge are important in determining probable cause, but that those issues are intertwined and should not be rigidly applied. He argued that the"totality-of-the-circumstances" approach to probable cause was the correct one to glean from Spinelli, and that the law enforcement officials who obtained a warrant abided by it in this case.