What happened in the case Riley v. California?

Asked by: Mrs. Eva Hansen MD  |  Last update: June 20, 2025
Score: 4.5/5 (4 votes)

The Court heard oral argument in Riley and Wurie on April 29, 2014. On June 25, 2014, in perhaps the most important privacy ruling of the digital age, the Court unanimously held that law enforcement officers in general are not permitted to search cell phones incident to arrest without a warrant.

What is the Riley case about?

Riley v. California, 573 U.S. 373 (2014), is a landmark United States Supreme Court case in which the court ruled that the warrantless search and seizure of the digital contents of a cell phone during an arrest is unconstitutional under the Fourth Amendment.

Which statement most accurately describes the holding of Riley v. California?

The option that most accurately explains how an evaluation of the facts led to the conclusion of the case Riley v. California is: A search of a phone's digital contents represents a serious violation of individual rights to privacy, therefore, police need a warrant to examine a cell phone, even if the owner is under ...

What happened in the Florida v Riley case?

Riley, 488 U.S. 445 (1989), was a United States Supreme Court decision which held that police officials do not need a warrant to observe an individual's property from public airspace. Defendant's motion to suppress evidence granted by trial court; reversed, State v. Riley, 476 So.

What happened in the Riley v. California case?

Riley v. California significantly influenced law enforcement practices regarding the search and seizure of digital information. The ruling required officers to obtain warrants for accessing the contents of cell phones, ensuring that searches of digital data are conducted within constitutional limits.

Case of the Month: Riley v. California

15 related questions found

What is the Supreme Court case about cell phones?

The Supreme Court Rules

In Riley v. California, 573 U.S. ______ (2014), Chief Justice Roberts, speaking for the Court, held that police officers may not search a cell phone found on an arrested individual's person without first obtaining a warrant.

Who is the plaintiff in Riley v. California?

David Leon RILEY, Petitioner v. CALIFORNIA. United States, Petitioner v. Brima Wurie.

What civil liberty was dealt with in the case of Riley v. California?

This case involves an important Fourth Amendment privacy issue that impacts millions of Americans each year: whether officers can search a suspect's cell phone without a warrant during an arrest.

What did the Supreme Court hold in the 2014 case of Riley v. California quizlet?

In the 2014 case Riley v. California, the Supreme Court held that warrants are required to search smartphones seized on arrest. This is because no imminent danger to the police or potential for destruction of evidence exists that would require a faster search.

What level of proof is required to search a cell phone in a car?

There are two requirements for a valid search under the vehicle exception: (1) there must be probable cause to believe that evidence of a crime or contraband is located in the vehicle to be searched; and (2) the vehicle must be “readily mobile.” The vehicle need not be moving, but must be capable of ready movement, at ...

Which Supreme Court case established the stop and frisk rules?

In 1968, the US Supreme Court decided, in the case Terry v. Ohio, that police using a “stop and frisk” procedure are within constitutional bounds as officers of the law.

Why did the Court determine that cell phones are different from other physical items?

The court held that cell phones are distinct from other physical possessions that may be searched incident to arrest without a warrant, because of the amount of personal data cell phones contain and the negligible threat they pose to law enforcement interests.

What is the story of the life of Riley?

Summaries. Riley worked in an aircraft plant in California, but viewers usually saw him at home, cheerfully disrupting life with his malapropisms and ill timed intervention into minor problems.

What are the 4th Amendment rights?

The Constitution, through the Fourth Amendment, protects people from unreasonable searches and seizures by the government. The Fourth Amendment, however, is not a guarantee against all searches and seizures, but only those that are deemed unreasonable under the law.

What is the story of Lincoln Riley?

Lincoln Riley is one of the nation's most successful coaches. He's had more success by the age of 40 than any other head coach in college football history. Riley has been a head coach for 7 seasons and has developed 3 of the last 7 Heisman Trophy winners.

What Supreme Court case helped the civil rights movement?

In 1954, the Supreme Court declared in Brown v. Board of Education that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. The decision itself was transformative, and equally as remarkable is the fact that it was unanimous.

What is the case law on cell phone searches?

Riley v. California is the United States Supreme Court's first attempt to regulate the searches of cell phones by law enforcement. The 2014 unanimous decision requires a warrant for all cell phone searches incident to arrest absent an emergency.

What is the exclusionary rule in the 4th Amendment?

Overview. The exclusionary rule prevents the government from using most evidence gathered in violation of the United States Constitution . The decision in Mapp v. Ohio established that the exclusionary rule applies to evidence gained from an unreasonable search or seizure in violation of the Fourth Amendment .

What are exigent circumstances?

Exigent Circumstances refers to emergency situations when law enforcement officers may lawfully, but without a warrant, enter a location (without a warrant) in which a person reasonably expects privacy.

Who is the plaintiff in this lawsuit?

In civil cases, like a personal injury case, the plaintiff is the person(s) who has alleged that wrongdoing has been done to them. The defendant is the person(s) or entity that has been accused of committing a wrongful act. An easy way to remember the difference between plaintiff vs.

Which rule states that evidence that was obtained illegally cannot be used in trial?

The exclusionary rule, designed to deter police from using unconstitutional investigative procedures, renders illegally obtained evidence inadmissible at trial.

What is the Riley case about?

Riley v. California, 573 U.S. 373 (2014), is a landmark United States Supreme Court case in which the court ruled that the warrantless search and seizure of the digital contents of a cell phone during an arrest is unconstitutional under the Fourth Amendment.

Why are phones not allowed in court?

Disruption to court proceedings is one reason cellphones and other PEDs have been banned in courtrooms. Another reason is their ability to record witnesses, jurors, or other individuals and use those images or videos to post on the internet to intimidate or harass them.

What is the most famous case of the 4th Amendment?

Brendlin v. California. This Fourth Amendment activity is based on the landmark Supreme Court case Brendlin v. California, dealing with search and seizure during a traffic stop.