Beware of the Diamond Dogs: Why a 'Credentials Alone' Conception of Probable Cause Violates the Compulsory Process Clause

Abstract:     
In Florida v. Harris, the State has asked the Supreme Court to find that a positive alert by a certified narcotics-detection dog is per se sufficient, in and of itself, to establish probable cause for the search of a vehicle. This essay, to be published in conjunction with Leslie Shoebotham's amici brief in Harris, argues that this "credentials alone" conception of probable cause violates the Compulsory Process Clause.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 5

Keywords: Narcotics-Sniffing Dogs, Probable Cause, Compulsory Process

JEL Classification: K14, K42

Accepted Paper Series