Rakas v. Illinois
439 U.S. 128 (1978)
Sections
Case Podcast
Listen to an audio breakdown of Rakas v. Illinois.
Rule of Law:
The Legal Principle
This section distills the key legal rule established or applied by the court—the one-liner you'll want to remember for exams.
Facts:
- A police officer on patrol received a radio call notifying him of a robbery and providing a description of the getaway car.
- Shortly thereafter, the officer spotted a car he believed matched the description and began to follow it.
- After assistance arrived, several officers stopped the vehicle.
- The occupants, petitioners Rakas and another man, along with two female companions, were ordered out of the car.
- After the occupants exited, officers searched the interior of the vehicle.
- The search revealed a box of rifle shells in the locked glove compartment and a sawed-off rifle under the front passenger seat.
- Petitioners were passengers in the car and did not own the vehicle.
- Petitioners did not assert ownership of the rifle or the shells that were seized.
Procedural Posture:
How It Got Here
Understand the case's journey through the courts—who sued whom, what happened at trial, and why it ended up on appeal.
Issue:
Legal Question at Stake
This section breaks down the central legal question the court had to answer, written in plain language so you can quickly grasp what's being decided.
Opinions:
Majority, Concurrences & Dissents
Read clear summaries of each judge's reasoning—the majority holding, any concurrences, and dissenting views—so you understand all perspectives.
Analysis:
Why This Case Matters
Get the bigger picture—how this case fits into the legal landscape, its lasting impact, and the key takeaways for your class discussion.
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