What Really Happened?
What triggered the events in Case v. Montana?
A 911 call reporting a possible suicide risk.
What does the Reasonableness Clause protect?
Against unreasonable searches and seizures.
What is due process meant to protect?
Fairness and individual rights under the law.
What are police powers designed to do?
Protect public safety, health, and welfare.
What similar issue came up in State v. Wiskowski?
Police actions justified under “community caretaking.”
How long did officers wait before entering the home?
About 40 minutes.
What does the Warrant Clause require?
Warrants must be based on probable cause.
What are the two kinds of due process?
Procedural and Substantive.
What keeps those powers in check?
The Constitution and judicial review.
What happened to Wiskowski’s conviction?
It was overturned due to unconstitutional search.
What did officers find after entering the home?
Drugs in plain view.
What standard did officers actually use in this case?
Reasonable suspicion
Which type focuses on how the government acts?
Procedural Due Process.
What rule excludes illegally obtained evidence?
The Exclusionary Rule.
Why do courts disagree on emergency-aid exceptions?
Different interpretations of what counts as an emergency.
What made the entry unconstitutional under the Fourth Amendment?
No confirmed emergency and no warrant.
When can the emergency-aid exception apply legally?
Only during an active, confirmed emergency.
Why does Case v. Montana challenge the boundaries of due process?
It questions whether “good intentions” by police can justify skipping legal procedures meant to protect individual rights.
What happens if police act outside their lawful authority?
Evidence can be thrown out and convictions overturned.
How would the current Supreme Court likely rule on Case v. Montana?
Entry unconstitutional, evidence suppressed.
What did the court say about relying only on “reasonable suspicion”?
It risks justifying unjustified home entries.
What question sits at the core of Case v. Montana?
Whether police can enter a home without probable cause based only on perceived danger.
How does due process strengthen the Fourth Amendment?
It ensures privacy and justice are protected from government overreach.
What key lesson does Case v. Montana teach about police power?
Even in emergencies, authority has limits; privacy and due process can’t be sacrificed for convenience.
What core conflict do Case v. Montana and State v. Wiskowski both expose?
The tension between public safety and personal liberty shows that protecting people cannot come at the cost of their constitutional rights.