In the 165 years since it's adoption (as of 1956), has the 4th Amendment been abused? A panel of judges and Congressman Harold Velde (member of the HUAC Committee) debate the issue. Prickly, at best.
August 25, 2010

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"It crawled into our hands . . honest!"


In 1956 the big question was, after 165 since it's adoption, was the 4th Amendment being abused? In light of the era in which that question was brought up, the answers were many and varied. And in this particular panel discussion, it got a little prickly, even down to the wording of People versus Criminals.
On the panel, part of the American Forum Series of April 15, 1956 were Judges Musmanno and Plaskow. Congressman Harold Velde, member of the HUAC Committee and F. Joseph Donohue, associate of Estes Kefauver, who was Investigating Organized Crime in the early 1950's. The panel was moderated by Robert McCormick of NBC News.

Judge Mussmano: “Mister McCormick – both you and Judge Plaskow begin with a premise that is not admitted, that criminals are escaping, that evil individuals are walking the streets, untrammeled by the punishment they deserved. And I come back to the proposition that it is the court that determines whether a person is innocent or guilty. And by your changing the question by using the word people instead of criminals, you haven’t improved it one bit.”

I don't think anyone walked away with a changed mind as a result of the half hour exchange, but it makes for interesting listening and realizing aspects of our Bill of Rights have always been up for argument.

1956 was no different.

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