What does the Fruit of the Poisonous Tree Doctrine require?

• A. Evidence obtained as a result of an earlier illegality must be excluded from trial
• B. All evidence obtained during a search must be admitted
• C. Only physical evidence is excluded
• D. It allows use of tainted evidence if the police acted in good faith

Answer: (A)

The main idea being tested is that evidence uncovered as a result of an illegal government action must be excluded from trial. If police violate someone’s rights and that unlawful step leads to discovering further evidence or leads the investigation to more evidence, that tainted material should be suppressed to deter violations and uphold judicial integrity. This applies to all types of evidence, not just physical items, including statements or leads derived from the initial illegality. There are exceptions—such as independent source, inevitable discovery, or attenuation—where tainted evidence can be admitted if the link to the illegality has been sufficiently broken. The other options misstate the rule: not all evidence must be admitted, and the doctrine covers more than just physical evidence; and good faith can be a separate consideration that isn’t what this doctrine requires.