What legal principle requires physical evidence seized in violation of the Fourth Amendment to be excluded from court?

The principle that mandates the exclusion of physical evidence obtained in violation of the Fourth Amendment is known as the Exclusionary Rule. This rule is grounded in the idea that allowing evidence obtained through unlawful searches and seizures undermines the integrity of the judicial process and the constitutional rights of individuals. The Fourth Amendment protects citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures, and when law enforcement violations occur, the Exclusionary Rule serves to discourage such misconduct by excluding improperly obtained evidence from being used in court.

This foundational aspect of criminal law reinforces the protection against governmental overreach and affirms the importance of adhering to constitutional safeguards during law enforcement procedures. The objective is to deter police misconduct and ensure that the legal system does not benefit from illegal actions. As a result, any evidence obtained as a result of such violations generally cannot be presented during legal proceedings, thereby upholding the rights granted under the Fourth Amendment.