Jones v. United States

Background

A man was arrested in a friend’s apartment after federal narcotics officers executed a warrant and found unstamped narcotics and paraphernalia in an awning outside a window. He admitted some items were his and that he was using the apartment. He was charged under federal drug laws, convicted, and sentenced. Lower courts refused his motion to suppress the evidence because they found he lacked enough interest in the apartment to challenge the search.

Reasoning

The Court considered whether he was a “person aggrieved” who could bring a motion to suppress under the federal rule governing such motions. The Court said a defendant charged with possession cannot be forced into a choice between admitting possession to get standing and risking conviction. The Court held that possession that the prosecution relies on to convict can itself give a defendant standing to challenge the search. The Court also held that a magistrate may properly issue a warrant based on hearsay in an affidavit when there is a substantial basis to credit that hearsay, and it found such a basis here because the informant had been reliable before and the tip was corroborated and the defendant was a known user.

Real world impact

Defendants charged with possession may now seek to suppress evidence without being barred for lack of property interest. Magistrates may rely on corroborated informant statements in affidavits. The Court, however, sent the case back to the trial court to resolve disputes about how officers executed the warrant under federal law, so the final outcome could change.

Dissents or concurrances

One Justice agreed on standing but disagreed that the affidavit showed probable cause, warning against anonymous informers and urging a stronger judicial check.