Wong Sun v. United States

Wong Sun v. United States
Supreme Court of the United States
Argued March 29, April 2, 1962 Reargued October 8, 1962 Decided January 14, 1963
Full case name	Wong Sun, et al. v. United States
Citations	371 U.S. 471 (more) 83 S. Ct. 407; 9 L. Ed. 2d 441; 1963 U.S. LEXIS 2431
Prior history	Cert. to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Holding
The presentation of verbal evidence and recovered narcotics where they were both fruits of an illegal entry are inadmissible in court except where there is a break in the chain of evidence.
Court membership
Chief Justice Earl Warren Associate Justices Hugo Black · William O. Douglas Tom C. Clark · John M. Harlan II William J. Brennan, Jr. · Potter Stewart Byron White · Arthur Goldberg
Case opinions
Majority	Brennan, joined by Warren, Black, Goldberg
Concurrence	Douglas
Dissent	Clark, joined by Harlan, Stewart, White

Wong Sun v. United States, 371 U.S. 471 (1963), is a United States Supreme Court decision excluding the presentation of verbal evidence and recovered narcotics where they were both fruits of an illegal entry. Narcotics agents unlawfully entered Toy's laundry at which point Toy indicated that Jonny was selling narcotics. The drug agents then went to Jonny and found the narcotics. Jonny made a deal to give up his supplier, Wong Sun. The agents then arrested Wong Sun. All were arraigned and released on their own recognizance. Several days later, Wong Sun voluntarily returned to the police station to make a statement, during the process of which he confessed.

The Supreme Court held that Toy's statements and the discovered drugs at Jonny's should both be excluded as fruit of the poisonous tree because the search was done without a warrant. Wong Sun's lawyer argued that Wong Sun's confession should also be excluded as fruit of the poisonous tree. Wong Sun's statement was ruled admissible because he had no standing to move to suppress the evidence found in Jonny's apartment. Wong Sun was granted a new trial, but his confession was admissible.

External links

• Text of Wong Sun v. United States, 371 U.S. 471 (1963) is available from:  Findlaw  Justia