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What does the phrase 'fruit of the poisonous tree' mean?

What does the phrase 'fruit of the poisonous tree' mean?

Q: What does the fruit represent in a poison tree?

In the phrase 'fruit of the poisonous tree,' the 'fruit' represents evidence or information obtained as a result of illegal actions, such as unlawful searches or arrests. If the initial source of this evidence is tainted, the derived evidence is also considered tainted and typically inadmissible in court.

Q: What is fruit of the poisonous tree famous examples?

Famous examples include the cases of Mapp v. Ohio, 367 U.S. 643 (1961), where evidence obtained from an illegal search was excluded, and Nix v. Williams, 467 U.S. 431 (1984), which clarified exceptions to the doctrine. These cases illustrate how the doctrine protects individuals from unlawful evidence gathering.

Q: What is the fruit of the poisonous tree refers to?

The phrase 'fruit of the poisonous tree' refers to evidence that is derived from an illegal source. If the original evidence was obtained through unlawful means, any subsequent evidence or information resulting from it is also considered tainted and generally inadmissible in court.

Q: What is meant by fruit of the poisonous tree?

The term 'fruit of the poisonous tree' means that if evidence is obtained through illegal actions, such as violating constitutional rights, then any evidence derived from that illegal source is also inadmissible in court. This principle aims to deter law enforcement from using unlawful methods to gather evidence.

Full question:

What is meant by the phrase "fruit of the poisonous tree?"

Category: Evidence
Date: 04/07/2025
State: National

Answer:

The phrase “fruit of the poisonous tree” is a legal term in the United States that refers to evidence obtained through illegal means. The idea is that if the source of the evidence (the “tree”) is tainted, then anything derived from it (the “fruit”) is also tainted. Such evidence is generally not admissible in court.

For example, if a police officer searches a home in violation of the Fourth Amendment and finds a key to a locker containing evidence of a crime, that evidence would likely be excluded under the fruit of the poisonous tree doctrine. This doctrine extends the exclusionary rule, which prevents evidence obtained in violation of the Fourth Amendment from being used in a criminal trial, with some exceptions. Both the exclusionary rule and this doctrine aim to deter law enforcement from using illegal methods to gather evidence.

This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.

FAQs

What is an example of the fruit of the poisonous tree case?

A well-known example is the case of Wong Sun v. United States, 371 U.S. 471 (1963). In this case, evidence obtained through an illegal arrest was deemed inadmissible in court. The Supreme Court ruled that since the original arrest was unlawful, any evidence derived from it, such as a confession and drugs found later, was also inadmissible under the fruit of the poisonous tree doctrine.