from the New York times and thanks to Ralla Klepak for her post on FaceBook

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court ruled on Monday that evidence found by police officers after illegal stops may be used in court if the officers conducted their searches after learning that the defendants had outstanding arrest warrants.

This means clear erosion of the “fruit of the poison” tree doctrine where if the stop was invalid then all evidence obtained cannot be used in a court of law against you.  It deters police from engaging in illegal stops.

Justice Clarence Thomas, writing for the majority in the 5-to-3 decision, said such searches do not violate the Fourth Amendment when the warrant is valid and unconnected to the conduct that prompted the stop.

Justice Thomas’s opinion drew a fiery dissent from Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who said that “it is no secret that people of…