|
|
Encyclopedia entry: Olmstead v. United States
- Article from:
- The Oxford Guide to the United States Government
- Author:
Copyright© The Oxford Guide to the United States Government 2001, originally published by Oxford University Press 2001. (Hide copyright information)
|
Olmstead v. United States
•277 U.S. 438 (1928)• Vote: 5–4• For the Court: Taft• Dissenting: Holmes, Brandeis, Butler, and StoneIn 1919, the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified. It banned the sale, transportation, and importation of alcoholic beverages. Congress passed the National Prohibition Act to implement the 18th Amendment. Roy Olmstead, however, defied the National Prohibition Act by conducting a large-scale business to transport liquor throughout the state of Washington and British Columbia in Canada.
Federal agents gained evidence of Olmstead's illegal business by tapping the telephone line in one of his company's offices and ...