California v. Greenwood

The case of California v. Greenwood was decided last May 16, 1988 by the US Supreme Court with a vote of 6-2 among the magistrates. Billy Greenwood was accused in dealing with illegal narcotics, the basis of which was by a police officer acting on a tip. The latter searched trash bags out on the curb of Greenwood. Finding paraphernalia related with the use of illegal drugs in the garbage bags, the police applied for a search warrant. In the said application of search warrant, they included in their affidavits descriptions of what they had found in the garbage.

With that, based on evidence from both the garbage can and the subsequent search, Greenwood was convicted of drug-related charges. He appealed to the Supreme Court, joining that the search of his garbage was warrantless and therefore illegal. The Supreme Court upheld the search, claiming that the bags of trash left on the side of the street were open to inspection by "animals, children, scavengers, snoops, and other members of the public." The trash bags were indeed found in open view of which the police officers searched for possible illegal narcotics based on the tip.

In line with that, Justices Marshall and Brennan dissented, stating the search of another person's garbage did not constitute civilized behavior, and therefore a person has the right to expect that the contents of any opaque container thrown out or transported will remain private. Nevertheless, the garbage was ruled public domain and the evidence was admissible. Hence, Greenwood was convicted with the charge filed against him.