The Illinois Supreme Court is hearing a case with origins in Southern Illinois.Â
According to The Center Square, in 2016, Cortez Turner went to a hospital in Murphysboro to be treated for a gunshot wound. He claimed he was hit by a stray bullet. While in the hospital, police confiscated the clothes he was wearing.Â
His pants became a key piece of evidence in the case, as a forensic examiner determined they showed the gunshot came from several inches away. This indicated Turner likely shot himself by accident.Â
This determination allowed police to charge and eventually convict Turner of a drive-by shooting that killed one Murphysboro man. In 2019, Turner was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
Now this case is facing a challenge. Attorney Richard Whitney says Turner's Fourth Amendment rights were violated at the hospital. The Fourth Amendment of the Constitution protects individuals from unlawful searches and seizures. Whitney claims that since police did not have a warrant, they shouldn't have been allowed to use Turner's clothes as evidence against him.Â
Assistant Attorney General Michael Cebula has stated on record that Turner gave officers permission to take his clothes. He also claims several witnesses testified to Turner's involvement in the shooting.Â
The justices will deliberate on this case, which could set a precedent for privacy in hospitals going forward. A decision is expected later this year. Â
