United States v. Watson

This article is about the Supreme Court case involving warrantless arrests in public. For the case involving first-degree murder and premeditation in the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, 501 A.2d 791 (1985), see United States v. Watson (DCCA 1985).

United States v. Watson
Supreme Court of the United States
Argued October 8, 1975
Decided January 26, 1976
Full case nameUnited States v. Henry Ogle Watson
Docket no.74-538
Citations423 U.S. 411 (more)
96 S. Ct. 820; 46 L. Ed. 2d 598
Case history
Prior504 F.2d 849 (9th Cir. 1974); cert. granted, 420 U.S. 924 (1975).
Holding
Warrantless arrests in public are allowed under the Fourth Amendment.
Court membership
Chief Justice
Warren E. Burger
Associate Justices
William J. Brennan Jr. · Potter Stewart
Byron White · Thurgood Marshall
Harry Blackmun · Lewis F. Powell Jr.
William Rehnquist · John P. Stevens
Case opinions
MajorityWhite, joined by Burger, Blackmun, Powell, Rehnquist
ConcurrencePowell
ConcurrenceStewart (in judgment)
DissentMarshall, joined by Brennan
Stevens took no part in the consideration or decision of the case.
Laws applied
U.S. Const. amend. IV

United States v. Watson, 423 U.S. 411 (1976), was a case decided by the Supreme Court of the United States that decided that a warrantless arrest in public and consenting to a vehicle search did not violate the Fourth Amendment.