Which case is significant for defining the limits of search and seizure involving personal privacy?

Katz v. United States is a landmark case that significantly defined the limits of search and seizure concerning personal privacy under the Fourth Amendment. In this case, the Supreme Court ruled that the government needs a warrant to conduct a search when an individual has a reasonable expectation of privacy. The case involved the use of electronic eavesdropping on a public phone booth, where the defendant was convicted based on the evidence obtained. The decision articulated that the Fourth Amendment protects people, not just places, emphasizing that privacy expectations in certain situations, like phone calls, warrant legal protections against government intrusion.

This ruling shifted how courts interpret searches, establishing that if someone has a reasonable expectation of privacy in a particular space or context, any intrusion by law enforcement without a warrant, probable cause, or consent could be considered unconstitutional. Katz v. United States is pivotal in shaping the legal landscape regarding personal privacy rights and the limits of search and seizure.