Meese Would Abolish Illegal Evidence Rule

Atty. Gen. Edwin Meese III told prosecutors Tuesday he hopes that, eventually, “we can do away with” a rule that bars the use in court of illegally obtained evidence.

Meese said that he has fought for nearly 25 years to abolish or relax the “exclusionary rule.”

In an appearance before a legislative conference of the National Assn. of District Attorneys, an organization representing 6,500 prosecutors, Meese said that he was heartened by a high court decision last July that authorized “good-faith exceptions” to the rule.

In a 6-3 ruling, the court held that, when judges or magistrates make mistakes that violate a defendant’s rights but police officers act on a reasonable assumption that those court actions are valid, the rule generally should not be applicable.

Meese said Tuesday he hopes that district attorneys and prosecutors around the country will “make sure the good-faith exception is properly handled” so law enforcement authorities can demonstrate a case for abolishing the rule.