Atlanta Bar Association Summer Intern Program
Terrence Croft Essay - Due June 29, 2016
This year’s Terrence Croft Essay is on the United States Supreme Court’s recent decision in Utah v. Strieff No. 14-1373. You may review the majority and two (2) dissenting opinions at the following LINK. The opinion may also be viewed at the United States Supreme Court’s website by clicking on “Opinions.” (www.supremecourtus.gov) You can also read the transcript of the Oral Argument by clicking on “Oral Argument” and going to “Argument Transcripts.” The link to the transcript of the oral argument is HERE. The link to the audio of the oral argument is HERE. Finally, we will bring this memorandum and the opinion(s) to this week's All Intern Meeting.
In Strieff, the United States Supreme Court by a decision of 5-3 reversed the Utah Supreme Court's decision to suppress incriminating evidence. In a nutshell, the United States Supreme Court held that if police discover an arrest warrant during an illegal traffic stop any incriminating evidence they recover thereafter is admissible in Court and not violative of the Fourth Amendment's exclusionary rule.
After setting forth succinctly the key facts, your essay should detail the United States Supreme Court’s holding in Strieff, with particular emphasis on the reasons (bases) for the Court's majority opinion by Justice Thomas. Do you agree with the decision? Why or why not? Please review and discuss the dissenting opinions of Justice Sotomayor and Justice Kagain.
Your essay must be at least 700 words typed and double-spaced.
Your essay is due June 29, 2016, at our weekly mandatory Intern Meeting.
**Denisha and Courtney will assign you an Essay number as we will do blind grading. Your name should not appear anywhere on your essay.**
Below are the links for you again:
SUPREME COURT OPINION
ORAL ARGUMENT TRANSCRIPT
ORAL ARGUMENT AUDIO
Also, for those interested, you may follow this video link for a short introductory vignette to the case.
VIDEO LINK
