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What was the significance of the "fruit of the poisoned tree" doctrine in the landmark case of United States v. Calandra?

The "fruit of the poisoned tree" doctrine refers to evidence obtained as a result of illegal or unconstitutional actions by law enforcement.

In United States v.

Calandra, the Supreme Court established a Balancing Test to determine when government surveillance of non-criminals is permissible.

The Balancing Test requires the government to demonstrate a "special need" for the surveillance, that it is narrowly tailored, and that it is likely to yield important evidence.

The Court recognized that the privacy interests of the individuals being surveilled must be balanced against the government's interest in obtaining evidence.

The Calandra decision extended Fourth Amendment protections to technological advancements in surveillance.

The Court emphasized that while grand juries are not bound by the restrictive procedures that govern trials, they are subject to certain constitutional limitations.

The exclusionary rule, which typically bars the use of illegally obtained evidence, was not applied in Calandra.

The Calandra decision resulted from a grand jury investigation into a gambling operation, involving the search of a business under a warrant.

The unlawfully seized evidence in question consisted of business records and ledgers.

The Court's decision in Calandra built on the precedent set by Silverthorne Lumber Co v.

United States, which denied grand jury access to illegally seized papers.

The balancing test established in Calandra has influenced subsequent court decisions involving surveillance technology and privacy rights.

As technology continues to advance, courts will need to address the ongoing challenge of balancing privacy concerns with the government's interest in gathering evidence.

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