United States v. Matlock

Petitioner

United States

Respondent

William Matlock

Petitioner's Claim

That out-of-court statements should not have been excluded from evidence at a suppression hearing and that a third party who had common authority over a premises may give permission for a search.

Chief Lawyer for Petitioner

Wallace, U.S. Deputy Solicitor General

Chief Lawyer for Respondent

Donald S. Eisenberg

Justices for the Court

Harry A. Blackmun, Warren E. Burger, Lewis F. Powell, Jr., William H. Rehnquist, Potter Stewart, Byron R. White (writing for the Court)

Justices Dissenting

William J. Brennan, Jr., William O. Douglas, Thurgood Marshall

Place

Washington, D.C.

Date of Decision

20 February 1974

Decision

A third party with control over a property may give permission for a warrantless search of the property. Also, no automatic rule exists against receiving hearsay evidence during a suppression hearing.

Related Cases

• Trupiano v. United States, 334 U.S. 699 (1948).
• McDonald v. United States, 335 U.S. 451 (1948).
• Brinegar v. United States, 338 U.S. 160 (1949).
• Frazier v. Cupp, 394 U.S. 731 (1969).
• Schneckloth v. Bustamonte, 412 U.S. 218 (1973).
• Illinois v. Rodriguez, 497 U.S. 177 (1990).

Further Readings