A major victory for citizens\u2019 privacy interests today as the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled law enforcement cannot search an arrested person\u2019s cell phone without first obtaining a search warrant.\u00a0 While the court recognized the need to investigate crimes, the Court found that privacy rights are more important.\u00a0 Besides, the police may still have the ability to search a cellphone or smartphone for further evidence of a crime, they just need to take an extra step and request a search warrant from a judge. As Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the court. “Privacy comes at a cost.”<\/p>\n
Obtaining\u00a0 a search warrant is a relatively easy procedure for law enforcement and is usually done by swearing to facts under oath that constitute probable cause that a crime was committed or that incriminating evidence is likely to be found in a particular place or, in this case, the cellphone.<\/p>\n