With Alito on board, Supreme Court rules knocking not needed before police

[kurth]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A sharply divided U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that evidence could be used even when the police entered a suspect's home illegally by failing to knock on the door or announce their presence.

The court's newest member, conservative Justice Samuel Alito, who was appointed by President George W. Bush, cast the tie-breaking vote in favor of the police in the latest decision by the conservative majority upholding police powers.

Liberal justices John Paul Stevens, David Souter, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer dissented.

"Today's opinion is thus doubly troubling. It represents a significant departure from the court's precedents. And it weakens, perhaps destroys, much of the practical value of the Constitution's knock-and-announce protection," Breyer wrote. He said the ruling will destroy the strongest legal incentive for the police to comply with that constitutional requirement...

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2006/06/15/top_court_allows_evidence_in_illegal_home_entry/

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Fucking fascists.

[Democrats_win]

1. Drink that poison America! BUSH 1 was no fluke. Ruby Ridge LIVES!

The BFEE will always be the enemy of freedom in America.

[thereismore]

2. Oh dear God. Fascism is marching onward, courtesy dimwit Resident.

[rodeodance]

3. day by day, life in the US is going downhill. little by lttle.

[BrklynLiberal]

4. Tell me again how Bush & Gore or Bush & Kerry were identical.

How it would not matter much which one of them won the election....

[Rainscents]

5. Follow the money...

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2004/0409.sirota.html

YUP, Kerry and Gore pick SC would had been far worst. :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm:

[charlie]

6. It never occurs to the Republican idiots

that they too have to live in the cesspool they've created. Predictable as rain, VIVA BUSH and YAY ALITO will give way to howling about JACKBOOTED THUGS under the next Democratic administration.

[BlooInBloo]

7. Conjecture: it's aimed as much as anything at chipping away abortion...

... rights... Via getting rid of the right-to-privacy.

[partylessinOhio]

8. Do you suppose Mrs. Alito will cry over this?

Oh, nevermind, she is no longer on stage emoting for effect.