Home > Great American Court Cases > Katz v. United States

Legal Citation: 389 U.S. 347 (1967)

Petitioner
Charles Katz

Respondent
United States

Petitioner's Claim
That evidence obtained by a wiretap on a public phone violated the Fourth Amendment's prohibition of unreasonable search and seizure and should have been ruled inadmissible.

Chief Lawyers for Petitioner
Harvey A. Schneider and Burton Marks

Chief Lawyer for Respondent
John S. Martin, Jr.

Justices for the Court
William J. Brennan, Jr., William O. Douglas, Abe Fortas, John Marshall Harlan II, Thurgood Marshall, Potter Stewart (writing for the Court), Earl Warren, Byron R. White

Justices Dissenting
Hugo Lafayette Black

Place
Washington, D.C.

Date of Decision
17 October 1967

Decision
Placing a wiretap on a public phone violates the Fourth Amendment.