United States v. Johnson

Summary

The Supreme Court considered whether the Fourth Amendment rule announced in Payton v. New York, prohibiting warrantless and nonconsensual entry into a suspect's home for a routine felony arrest, applied to an arrest occurring before Payton was decided. The Court held that Payton applied to cases still pending on direct review when Payton was announced, rejecting the Government's arguments for nonretroactive application based on United States v. Peltier.

Holdings

1. Subject to the Court's stated exceptions, a Supreme Court decision construing the Fourth Amendment applies retroactively to all convictions that were not yet final when the decision was rendered.
2. The decision is limited to Fourth Amendment decisions and cases pending on direct review; it does not decide the retroactive reach of Fourth Amendment rules on collateral attack or the retroactivity of decisions construing other constitutional provisions.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the Fourth Amendment rule announced in Payton v. New York applies retroactively to convictions that were not final when Payton was decided.
2. Whether a new Supreme Court decision construing the Fourth Amendment must be applied to all convictions pending on direct review when the decision was rendered.

Disposition

affirmed