A Project of the University of Michigan Law School and the MDefenders Program

Brief Challenging Warrantless Genetic Genealogy Search

This brief argues that law enforcement’s warrantless upload of a suspect’s SNP profile to GEDmatch and subsequent genealogical investigation violated the Alaska and federal constitutions. The brief explains how SNP-based genetic genealogy reveals highly information-rich data—including intimate familial associations and biological characteristics—far beyond traditional STR identity testing. It contends that both the suspect and his […]