Full name: Maryland v. King
Samuel AlitoStephen BreyerAnthony KennedyJohn G. RobertsClarence ThomasRuth Bader GinsburgElena KaganAntonin ScaliaSonia Sotomayor Note: Court justices do not represent any political party. The color of each judge's name represents the political party of the president who appointed the judge.
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Summary
The Supreme Court ruled that police can take DNA samples when someone is arrested in connection with a serious crime, even though that person might not be convicted.
What was the case about?
In 2009, Alonzo Jay King was arrested in Maryland for assault. A DNA sample was taken after his arrest, which connected him to an unsolved rape and robbery.
Maryland law calls for DNA samples to be taken upon arrest. If the person arrested is not convicted, the law calls for the sample to be destroyed. King claimed the law violated the Constitution's Fourth Amendment protection against unreasonable search and seizures - since he had not been convicted of a crime when the sample was taken. The Maryland Court of Appeals agreed with King, overturning his conviction (along with the state law).
How the Supreme Court ruled
The Supreme Court reversed the decision by the Maryland court, reinstating King's conviction and ruling that Maryland's law did not violate the Fourth Amendment.
For more information...
To read the ruling, click here.