[1] The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) suspected Rudolph Abel of being a spy for the Soviet Union.

Abel, represented by James B. Donovan, appealed to the Supreme Court that the searches violated the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution and thus the evidence should not have been used at his trial.

Thus the case was re-argued to decide the issues reformed as follows: The Supreme Court affirmed Abel's conviction in a 5–4 decision.

[2] The Court then found that the INS searches were made pursuant to a valid arrest, and thus the evidence was discovered appropriately.

[2] The 2015 Steven Spielberg film Bridge of Spies includes a scene that dramatizes James B. Donovan, portrayed by Tom Hanks, arguing the case before the Supreme Court.