What must be established for the Independent Source Doctrine to apply?

The Independent Source Doctrine is a principle that allows evidence obtained from a lawful source to be admissible in court, even if it was also discovered through an unlawful manner. For this doctrine to apply, it is essential that the evidence in question is discovered through a separate lawful source. This means that there must be a legitimate method or route taken to uncover the evidence, independent of any illegal actions that may have initially led to its discovery.

This requirement safeguards against the exclusion of evidence that is ultimately gathered legally, even if an earlier, unlawful search or seizure has occurred. The doctrine aims to ensure that law enforcement can utilize lawful methods of evidence gathering without being penalized for any procedural missteps. Thus, for the Independent Source Doctrine to be applicable, the critical component is that the evidence comes from a lawful source that is independent from the questionable methods initially employed.