Dictionary Home » Webster's New World Law Dictionary » silver platter doctrine

silver platter doctrine

silver platter doctrine definition - legal

n

In criminal law, this was a doctrine that a federal court could introduce illegally or improperly state-seized evidence, as long as federal officers had played no role in obtaining it. The doctrine was declared unconstitutional in 1960 (Elkins v. United States).

Webster's New World Law Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.