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according to the Supreme Court in ____ the fourteenth amendment's due process clause prohibits unreasonable searches and searches by state officials; so, federal prosecutors may not accept illegally obtained evidence gathered by state law enforcement

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Final answer:

The Supreme Court ruling in Mapp v. Ohio (1961) established that the Fourteenth Amendment's due process clause prohibits states from using evidence obtained via unreasonable searches and seizures, aligning state law enforcement practices with federal standards and the Fourth Amendment.

Step-by-step explanation:

According to the Supreme Court in the landmark case Mapp v. Ohio (1961), the Fourteenth Amendment's due process clause prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures by state officials, thereby stipulating that federal prosecutors may not use illegally obtained evidence gathered by state law enforcement. This decision fundamentally established the exclusionary rule at the state level, an extension of the Fourth Amendment's protections, and the principle of 'fruit of the poisonous tree' which excludes evidence that is derived from illegal searches or seizures. The Mapp ruling is a crucial turning point in criminal law and due process, ensuring that states uphold the same standards of evidence admissibility as the federal government.

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