In Campbell v. United States, the Supreme Court was asked to decide whether a defendant could be convicted of a crime if the evidence presented at trial was obtained through an illegal search and seizure. The case involved a defendant, Campbell, who was charged with receiving stolen goods. The evidence used to convict him was obtained through a search of his home without a warrant. The Supreme Court held that the evidence obtained through the illegal search and seizure was inadmissible in court. The Court reasoned that the Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution protects citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures, and that the evidence obtained through the illegal search and seizure was in violation of this amendment. The Court also noted that the exclusionary rule, which prohibits the use of illegally obtained evidence in court, was applicable in this case. The Court's decision in Campbell v. United States established the principle that evidence obtained through an illegal search and seizure is inadmissible in court. This decision has been cited in numerous cases since then, and has become an important part of Fourth Amendment jurisprudence.

Justice Field delivered the dissenting opinion in Campbell v. United States, arguing that Congress had no authority to pass a law which would allow for the forfeiture of property without due process of law. He argued that this was an unconstitutional taking of private property and violated the Fifth Amendment's protection against deprivation of life, liberty or property without due process. Furthermore, he noted that it was not within Congress' power to create such laws as they were beyond its scope under Article I Section 8 Clause 4 (the Necessary and Proper Clause). Justice Field concluded by stating his belief that if Congress could pass such a law then it could also take away any other right protected by the Constitution with impunity.