Lopez v. United States 373 U.S. 427 (1963)

• Author: Herman Schwartz
• Pages: 1643

Page 1643

The Supreme Court held that a government agent may surreptitiously record a conversation with a criminal suspect and use the recording to corroborate his testimony. Lopez, a tavern keeper, offered a bribe to a federal tax agent who thereupon recorded the conversation. The Court refused to exclude the recording. Because the agent was on the premises with Lopez's consent, there was no TRESPASS and therefore no violation of the FOURTH AMENDMENT. Because the agent could testify to the conversation, he could use the recording to...