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DRAPER v. UNITED STATES Case Brief
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Case Brief Summary & Legal Analysis
tl;dr: An informant’s detailed tip, corroborated by police observation of innocent details, was found to constitute probable cause for a warrantless arrest, rendering the subsequent search lawful under the Fourth Amendment.
Legal Significance: Established that a reliable informant’s detailed, predictive tip, when substantially corroborated by police, can create probable cause for an arrest, even if the corroborated facts are non-criminal in nature.
DRAPER v. UNITED STATES Law School Study Guide
Use this case brief structure for your own legal analysis. Focus on the IRAC methodology to excel in law school exams and cold calls.
Case Facts & Court Holding
Key Facts & Case Background
A federal narcotics agent, Marsh, was informed by a reliable paid informant, Hereford, that James Draper would be transporting heroin by train from Chicago to Denver on one of two specific mornings. Hereford provided a detailed description of Draper’s appearance, the clothes he would be wearing, that he would be carrying a tan zipper bag, and that he habitually “walked real fast.” Acting on this tip, Marsh and a police officer conducted surveillance at the Denver train station. On the second morning specified by Hereford, they observed a man matching the exact physical description and wearing the precise clothing alight from an incoming Chicago train. The man was carrying a tan zipper bag and walking quickly. Based on this personal verification of the informant’s detailed predictions, Marsh arrested Draper without a warrant. A search incident to the arrest revealed two envelopes of heroin on Draper’s person and a syringe in his bag. Draper moved to suppress this evidence, arguing the arrest was not supported by probable cause.
Court Holding & Legal Precedent
Issue: Did a law enforcement officer have probable cause to conduct a warrantless arrest based on a reliable informant’s detailed tip that was substantially corroborated by the officer’s independent observations?
Yes. The warrantless arrest was lawful because the combination of information from Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco labor
IRAC Legal Analysis
Complete IRAC Analysis for Higher Grades
IRAC (Issue, Rule, Analysis, Conclusion) is the exact format professors want to see in your exam answers. Our exclusive Flash-to-Full briefs combine holding, analysis, and rule statements formatted to match what A+ students produce in exams. These structured briefs help reinforce the essential legal reasoning patterns expected in law school.
Legal Issue
Did a law enforcement officer have probable cause to conduct a warrantless arrest based on a reliable informant’s detailed tip that was substantially corroborated by the officer’s independent observations?
Conclusion
This case provides a foundational framework for establishing probable cause through an Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud
Legal Rule
Probable cause for a warrantless arrest exists where "the facts and circumstances Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim i
Legal Analysis
The Court's analysis proceeded in two parts. First, it rejected Draper's contention Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor inc
Flash-to-Full Case Opinions
Flash Summary
- Information from a reliable informant, even if hearsay, can be used
