The good-faith exception permits prosecutors to introduce evidence in court that was obtained illegally if they can show that police relied on a warrant that appeared to be valid when it was used.

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The good-faith exception is a legal doctrine that allows evidence that would otherwise be inadmissible in court to be used if it was obtained in good faith by law enforcement officers who believed they were acting under a valid warrant or other legal authority. This exception applies when officers acted in reasonable reliance on a warrant that was later found to be defective or invalid, such as a warrant that was issued without probable cause or that contained errors or omissions. Under the good-faith exception, the evidence obtained from the search or seizure can still be used in court if it would have been discovered anyway through lawful means, and if excluding it would not serve the interest of justice.

The Good-Faith Exception Permits Prosecutors to Introduce Evidence in Court