Rochin Vs. California Year: 1952

How To Brief a Case

Facts: what happened?

Procedure: what occurred in the lower courts? Decisions made in the lower courts (before the Supreme Court).

Issue(s): question of law presented to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Holding: the ruling in the case. The decision/answer.

Rationale: reasons why the court ruled in a particular way.

Rochin v. California
Year: 1952

Facts
3 deputy sheriffs of the county of Los Angeles go into Rochin’s home after obtaining potential information that he was selling narcotics
They found him on the second floor, where he then swallows two capsules.
The deputies kicked him several times in the stomach attempting to force the capsules out of his body.
He was taken to a hospital to pump his stomach. He vomited the two capsules
The officers searched the home and later seized some coins and other items.
Over the petitioner’s objection, the seized items were admitted as evidence against him and he was convicted.

Procedure:
After the petitioner’s state trial on two charges of burglary, the items taken from the house were admitted into evidence, over his objection that they had been unconstitutionally seized.
He was convicted.
The California court of appeal and the California Supreme Court affirmed the judgments of conviction.
Both courts accepted the petitioner's contention that the arrest warrant was invalid.
The appellate courts went on to hold that the search of the petitioners home had been justified.
Certiorari was granted
Issue(s):
Although an arrest warrant was procured against the petitioner, he claims that the evidence seized from his home was done so without a search warrant, violating his 4th Amendment rights.
The previous Courts argue that since the officers had an arrest warrant for the petitioner, it justified their searching of the home.

Holding:
The Supreme Court reversed the decision and held that the petitioner’s conviction could not