This is a huge, Huge, HUGE hit to individual liberty and personal safety. It is so broad and vague as to render the populous ideologically subject to the government at its whim. It makes me sick to think about it but this one is worth backing the ACLU on.<br />--------<br />March 27, 2004<br /><br />5th Circuit gives police new power in searches<br /><br />Warrant unneeded in some instances<br /><br />NEW ORLEANS -- A federal appeals court has opened the door for police in Texas and two other states to search residences and buildings for evidence without a warrant -- a ruling strongly criticized by two dissenting justices.<br /> <br />The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled police do not need an arrest or search warrant to conduct a swift sweep of private property to ensure their safety.<br /> <br />Evidence found in that search is admissible if the search is a "cursory inspection" and if police entered for a legitimate purpose and believed it may be dangerous.<br /> <br />The 11-4 ruling affects Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi and replaces a standard set in 1994, when the 5th Circuit held that police can make a so-called protective sweep only if officers are there to arrest someone. In the majority opinion, Judge William Lockhart Garwood wrote that any in-home encounter poses a risk to police officers, even if it is simply to interview someone. ...<br />-------- <br />I got it from WorldNetDaily.com but you can read the whole story here:<br /> http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/nation/2470156