Unanimous Supreme Court Ruling Mandating a Warrant to Search Cell-Phone/Computer

[ICantSpellDawg]

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/26/us/supreme-court-cellphones-search-privacy.html

Even when the owner has been arrested in possession of the item.

This is exciting news for the future of our country.

[Kadagar_AV]

With pretty much all political trends going the other way, I for one celebrate these news!!

[Seamus Fermanagh]

A good decision -- I have always been "leery" of warrantless searches of any kind. Too much "fishing expedition" not enough "investigation."


Now, let's get some of the more noisome elements of the Patriot Act dropped -- there were a few improvements that are worthy of maintaining -- and I will be even happier.

[Fisherking]

If a smart phone contains that much information (and it does) what can be said of government monitoring our every move electronically and reading our e-mails?

This would seem to be a very important ruling. It is not often that they go against the wishes of the other branches.

[Papewaio]

Does the ruling stop Warrantless intercepts of traffic between devices?

[Fisherking]

The ruling doesn’t deal with anything but cell phones. It could be extrapolated to that degree but it will take a case to get a ruling, and it won’t guarantee these people will be consistent.

[a completely inoffensive name]

It's a good step forward. I think we can all agree that this was a good decision.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

The ruling doesn’t deal with anything but cell phones. It could be extrapolated to that degree but it will take a case to get a ruling, and it won’t guarantee these people will be consistent.

No, it cannot guarantee a future decision. However, on those occasions where the court has made a pronouncement on evidence and procedure with a unanimous vote, they ARE serving notice that similar concerns are to be handled the same way unless and until a major shift in the court has occurred. The unanimous rulings tend to have a lasting power and impact that other decisions do not.