"Given the unique nature of cellphone location information, the fact that the government obtained the information from a third party does not overcome Carpenter’s claim to Fourth Amendment protection," Roberts said in the document.
The Fourth Amendment to the US Constitution guarantees the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures. The Fourth Amendment also specifies that no warrants must be issued unless there is a probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, describing the place to be searched and the persons or things to be seized.
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The document noted that the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 to restrict US authorities from accessing private cell-tower information.
The Supreme Court emphasized in the ruling that an individual does not surrender all Fourth Amendment protections by tapping into the public sphere.
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During the investigation into Carpenters crime, authorities asked his cell-phone service provider for 127 days of records that showed his whereabouts during the time the robberies took place, the document explained.
Carpenter’s attorneys argued that authorities violated his Fourth Amendment rights, which protects against unreasonable searches, the document said.
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