Tennessee Supreme Court Determines Warrantless Search Of Residence Was Unlawful
Orders Dismissal Of Convictions Tuesday, February 23, 2021
In a unanimous opinion released Tuesday, the Tennessee Supreme Court held the inevitable discovery rule, an exception to the exclusionary rule that applies when tainted evidence would have been inevitably discovered regardless of police misconduct, does not apply to a case when law enforcement merely “could have” obtained evidence through a search warrant or other lawful means. The Court further concluded the search of the Defendant’s home was illegal because her consent was not freely and voluntarily given. The Court ruled that evidence obtained during the illegal search was not admissible, and the defendant’s convictions must be dismissed.