6.10: Chimel v. California

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PETITIONER RESPONDENT

Chimel California

LOCATION

Chimel’s Home

DOCKET NO. DECIDED BY

770 Burger Court

CITATION

395 US 752 (1969)

ARGUED

Mar 27, 1969

DECIDED

Jun 23, 1969

Facts of the case

Local police officers went to Chimel's home with a warrant authorizing his arrest for burglary. Upon serving him with the arrest warrant, the officers conducted a comprehensive search of Chimel's residence. The search uncovered a number of items that were later used to convict Chimel. State courts upheld the conviction.

Question

Was the warrantless search of Chimel's home constitutionally justified under the Fourth Amendment as "incident to that arrest?"

FOR	AGAINST
Douglas Marshall Warren Stewart Harlan Brennan	White Black

FOR

AGAINST

Douglas

Marshall

Warren

Stewart

Harlan

Brennan

White

Black

Conclusion

6–2 Decision for Chimel Majority Opinion by Potter Stewart

In a 7-to-2 decision, the Court held that the search of Chimel's house was unreasonable under the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments. The Court reasoned that searches "incident to arrest" are limited to the area within the immediate control of the suspect. While police could reasonably search and seize evidence on or around the arrestee's person, they were prohibited from rummaging through the entire house without a search warrant. The Court emphasized the importance of warrants and probable cause as necessary bulwarks against government abuse.

Contributors and Attributions

Larry Alvarez (Faculty of Administration of Justice Instructor and Administration of Justice at College of the Canyons)