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Full-Text Articles in Law
Liberty From Officials By Grace: The Fourth Amendment's Application To Automobile Passengers In Maryland V. Wilson, Michael Begland
Liberty From Officials By Grace: The Fourth Amendment's Application To Automobile Passengers In Maryland V. Wilson, Michael Begland
University of Richmond Law Review
On February 19, 1997, the United States Supreme Court handed down its decision in Maryland v. Wilson, and put an end to twenty years of speculation regarding a police officer's authority to order a passenger out of a lawfully stopped automobile. In finding that such an order does not violate a passenger's Fourth Amendment privacy interests, the Supreme Court reversed Maryland's Court of Special Appeals and sided with the majority of states that have considered this narrow issue. The Court's decision provides important insight into the current state of Fourth Amendment jurisprudence and the Supreme Court's increasing willingness to sacrifice …
Warrantless Searches And Seizures In Virginia, Ronald J. Bacigal
Warrantless Searches And Seizures In Virginia, Ronald J. Bacigal
University of Richmond Law Review
There is a well-recognized lack of consistency and clarity in fourth amendment decisions. At times, each search and seizure case seenis unique and the decisions appear to rest on factual determinations rather than on legal principles. Nonetheless, it is desirable to have some understanding of the basic principles of the fourth amendment, and the way in which these principles affect individual cases.
Search And Seizure Of Containers Found In Automobiles: The Supreme Court Struggles For A "Bright Line" Rule, James M. Mccauley
Search And Seizure Of Containers Found In Automobiles: The Supreme Court Struggles For A "Bright Line" Rule, James M. Mccauley
University of Richmond Law Review
Two recent decisions by the United States Supreme Court have added a new dimension to the law of search and seizure of automobiles and containers found within motor vehicles. The plurality opinion in Robbins v. California'held that a closed opaque container found in the luggage compartment of a station wagon during the course of a lawful vehicle search could not be seized without a warrant. However, in New York v. Belton, a majority held that a police officer, incident to a lawful custodial arrest of an occupant of an automobile, may search the passenger compartment of that automobile and examine …
A Case For Jury Determination Of Search And Seizure Law, Ronald J. Bacigal
A Case For Jury Determination Of Search And Seizure Law, Ronald J. Bacigal
University of Richmond Law Review
In a criminal case the option to return a general verdict of acquittal invests the jury with the raw power to nullify many legal determinations, including the trial judge's ruling that a search is constitutional. While courts grudingly acknowledge the existence of an extra-legal jury nullification power, courts do not recognize any jury prerogative to determine the lawfulness of a search. The United States Supreme Court's discussion of the jury's role in interpreting and applying the fourth amendment consists of one terse statement that the legality of a search "is a question of fact and law for the court and …
Criminal Procedure And Criminal Law: Virginia Supreme Court Decisions During The 70'S, Michael J. Barbour, Thomas E. Carr, Sarah H. Finley, Jeannie L. Pilant
Criminal Procedure And Criminal Law: Virginia Supreme Court Decisions During The 70'S, Michael J. Barbour, Thomas E. Carr, Sarah H. Finley, Jeannie L. Pilant
University of Richmond Law Review
The purpose of this note is to examine the decisions of the Virginia Supreme Court during the period between 1970-1980 in the area of criminal procedure and substantive criminal law. Legislative changes will not be dealt with in depth except as they have affected these decisions. Because of space constraints, a complete review of all areas is impossible; therefore, review has been limited to those issues most likely to be of interest to the practicing attorney. The discussion will also attempt to establish the position of the Virginia Supreme Court on these matters in relation to the United States Supreme …
The New Warrant Requirements: Payton V. New York And Wallace V. King, Robert B. Lloyd Jr.
The New Warrant Requirements: Payton V. New York And Wallace V. King, Robert B. Lloyd Jr.
University of Richmond Law Review
Since the original Bill of Rights was drafted, the diverse warrant requirements necessary for reasonable searches and seizures under the fourth amendment have led to chaos and confusion. A dichotomy has existed between the requirements necessary for the search and seizure of property and those necessary for the search and seizure of persons. Generally, a warrant has been required when the object of the search and seizure was property while no warrant has been necessary for the seizure of an individual. The Supreme Court decision in Payton v. New York has erased much of this distinction, holding that the fourth …
Privacy Revisited: The Downfall Of Griswald, Martin R. Levy, C. Thomas Hectus
Privacy Revisited: The Downfall Of Griswald, Martin R. Levy, C. Thomas Hectus
University of Richmond Law Review
This article presents a review of the Supreme Court's privacy decisions since Griswold v. Connecticut, and concentrates on Doe v. Commonwealth's Attorney for City of Richmond as a vehicle to review the Burger Court's trends in the privacy area. Doe is a good vehicle because, though decided without opinion, the summary affirmance of a lower court decision denying homosexuals constitutional protection resolved the tension developing between Douglas' penumbra theory of privacy, which was the opinion of the Court in Griswold, and the more modern substantive due process analysis. The authors conclude that the opinions in Griswold are dead as far …
A Review Of Prisoners' Rights Litigation Under 42 U .S.C . §1983, Scott D. Anderson, Theodore I. Brenner, Vera Duke, James E. Gray, Ronald M. Maupin
A Review Of Prisoners' Rights Litigation Under 42 U .S.C . §1983, Scott D. Anderson, Theodore I. Brenner, Vera Duke, James E. Gray, Ronald M. Maupin
University of Richmond Law Review
Before the mid-1960's, the federal courts frequently invoked the "hands-off" doctrine, a rule of deference to state correctional administrators, when petitioned by inmates to review conditions in state jails and prisons. When applied, the doctrine essentially held that a state prisoner's grievance was beyond the scope of authority or competence ofthe federal judiciary. With an increasing realization during the late 1960's and early 1970's that federal court intervention into state prison matters would be necessary, the 42 U.S.C. § 19831 civil rights complaint became the leading tool for effecting change in the area of prisoners rights. In order to gain …
Recent Decisions
University of Richmond Law Review
This is a summary of the case law from 1969.
Sodomy And The Married Man
University of Richmond Law Review
Although the Constitution does not provide for a specific right of privacy, the existence of such a right is beyond dispute. The extent of the right is, however, difficult to determine when one considers the point beyond which the right of privacy will prohibit intrusion by either state or federal authorities into an individual's affairs. Only by balancing the individual's need for privacy with the state's interest in regulating private conduct, can a delineation be made.