Which legal principle prohibits the use of illegally obtained evidence in court?

The principle that prohibits the use of illegally obtained evidence in court is known as the exclusionary rule. This rule is rooted in the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which protects individuals from unreasonable searches and seizures. When law enforcement authorities obtain evidence in violation of a person's constitutional rights, that evidence cannot be introduced in a court of law. This legal principle serves to deter law enforcement from engaging in unlawful activities and protects the integrity of the judicial process.

Probable cause relates to the reasonable belief that a crime has been, is being, or will be committed, and is often required for law enforcement to conduct searches or make arrests, but it does not address the admissibility of evidence itself. The Miranda warning ensures that individuals taken into police custody are informed of their rights, but it does not pertain to the legality of evidence. An indictment is a formal charge or accusation of a serious crime, which also does not relate directly to the admissibility of evidence obtained during law enforcement investigations.