Great American Court Cases | California v. Greenwood

Legal Citation: 486 U.S. 35 (1988)

Petitioner
State of California

Respondent
Billy Greenwood

Petitioner's Claim
That a warrantless search and seizure of garbage placed at the curb for pickup does not violate the Fourth Amendment.

Chief Lawyer for Petitioner
Michael J. Pear

Chief Lawyer for Respondent
Michael Ian Garey

Justices for the Court
Harry A. Blackmun, Sandra Day O'Connor, William H. Rehnquist, Antonin Scalia, John Paul Stevens, Byron R. White (writing for the Court)

Justices Dissenting
William J. Brennan, Jr., Thurgood Marshall (Anthony M. Kennedy did not participate)

Place
Washington, D.C.

Date of Decision
16 May 1988

Decision
Reversed the California Court of Appeal decision and ruled that the Fourth Amendment does not prohibit the warrantless...