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A case in the long list of cases, starting with Boyd v. U.S., 116 U.S. 616
(1886), revolving around self-incrimination.
In particular, this case decided the issue of whether, and to what extent, the Fifth Amendment
protection against compelled self-incrimination applies to the business records of a sole
proprietorship.
Many people erroneously believe that this case overruled Boyd v. U.S.
However, the Supreme court merely further defined the character of the Fifth Amendment.
The Court ruled that records were not immune although people still were. The compelled act of
producing certain documents was still protected under the Fifth. Documents that were kept by a voluntary
nature, such as bank records, were not protected.
Full Text: United States v. Doe,
465 U.S. 605 (1984) |