High court clashes over police search evidence

[Judi Lynn]

High court clashes over police search evidence
Justices spar over whether police must knock before home searches

Updated: 1 hour, 49 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - Supreme Court justices sparred Thursday over police searches in a case that could signal a change in direction for the court after the arrival of two new conservative members.

The court has been generally cohesive and congenial under new Chief Justice John Roberts and in the three and a half months since Samuel Alito became the new junior justice. Earlier this week, for example, the justices ruled in four cases and were 9-0 in each.

They appeared fractured, however, as they debated for the second time whether police can rush into a home without knocking and seize evidence for use at a trial.

The case may have a different outcome without retired Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. She seemed ready, when the case was first argued in January, to rule in favor of a Detroit man whose house was searched in 1998.
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