Wilson v. Arkansas

Prior to her trial on narcotics trafficking charges, Wilson filed a motion to suppress evidence seized by police in their raid on her home. She claimed that the failure of the police to knock on her door and announce their presence and intentions before entering her home violated her Fourth Amendment protection from unreasonable search and seizure. The trial court denied her motion and Wilson was found guilty of all charges against her and sentenced to 32 years in prison. Following her conviction, Wilson appealed the case to the Arkansas Supreme Court, which upheld the trial court's ruling. The state supreme court could find "no authority for [the] theory that the knock and announce principle is required by the Fourth Amendment." Wilson then appealed her case to the U.S. Supreme Court, which heard arguments in the matter on 28 March 1995.