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AGUILAR v. TEXAS

Supreme Court of United States (1964) | 378 U.S. 108; 84 S.Ct. 1509; 12 L.Ed.2d 723

3 min read

TL;DR: Police obtained a search warrant based on an affidavit claiming a "credible" informant's tip. The Supreme Court found the affidavit insufficient because it lacked facts about the informant's reliability or the basis of their knowledge, rendering the warrant invalid under the Fourth Amendment.

Legal Significance: This case established the influential "Aguilar-Spinelli test," a two-pronged standard for evaluating probable cause based on informants' tips. The affidavit must demonstrate the informant's basis of knowledge and provide facts supporting their credibility or the reliability of their information.

The end of law is not to abolish or restrain, but to preserve and enlarge freedom.

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