Supreme Court Intervenes in Searches, Guns Cases

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court stepped into two criminal cases yesterday, one that will help define the limits of warrantless police searches and the other interpreting a law on guns and domestic violence.

Five police officers from Utah asked the court whether officers may enter a home without a warrant when an informant is inside and sees evidence of a crime.

The case against Afton Callahan of Millard County, Utah, will test whether the officers who conducted the warrantless search may be sued by the person they arrest.

In the second case, the court will consider Randy Edward Hayes's argument that the government was wrong to charge him with violating a federal law barring people convicted in domestic violence cases from possessing firearms.