In Hart v. United States, the Supreme Court of the United States 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, Hart, who was charged with receiving stolen goods. The evidence used to convict Hart 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 further held that the exclusionary rule applied, which meant that the evidence obtained through the illegal search and seizure could not be used to convict Hart. The Court's decision in Hart 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 Hart v. United States, arguing that Congress had no authority to pass a law which would allow for the seizure of property without due process of law. He argued that this was an infringement on the rights of citizens and violated both Article I, Section 9 and Amendment V of the Constitution. Furthermore, he stated that it was not within Congress' power to create such a statute as it did not fall under any enumerated powers granted by the Constitution. Justice Field concluded his dissent with an appeal to precedent set forth in previous cases regarding similar issues; namely, that individuals have certain fundamental rights which cannot be taken away without due process being provided first.