Evidence obtained illegally upheld in trying 2nd party

The Supreme Court ruled Monday, with three sharp dissents, that the government may use evidence obtained illegally from one person to prosecute another person. The decision reversed a lower court's decision to bar the use of evidence obtained while an undercover detective distracted a bank officer, allowing other agents to photograph bank records. The government later tried to use the documents to prosecute another person.

Writing for the majority, Justice Lewis F. Powell Jr. said a defendant's constitutional rights against illegal searches are violated only when the challenged conduct directly violates his privacy rights.