What does the Exclusionary Rule primarily hold about evidence obtained from unlawful searches or seizures?

• A. Essentially states that evidence obtained as a result of an unlawful search and/or seizure is inadmissible in criminal trials.
• B. The rule prohibits the use of evidence for impeachment purposes.
• C. It requires a showing of probable cause to search in all cases.
• D. It applies only to digital data.

Answer: (A)

The Exclusionary Rule holds that evidence obtained through an unlawful search or seizure is not admissible in criminal trials. This suppression protects Fourth Amendment rights and punishes police misconduct by keeping illegally obtained material out of court, and it can also bar derivative evidence connected to that illegality. There are exceptions, like the good-faith or independent-source doctrines, but the main idea remains: unlawfully obtained evidence cannot be used at trial. It isn’t about impeachment solely, it isn’t requiring probable cause in every case, and it isn’t limited to digital data.