McNabb-Mallory rule

noun | \ mək-ˈnab-ˈma-lə-rē- \ | Mc·Nabb-Mal·lo·ry rule

1. : a doctrine in criminal procedure: an arrestee must be brought before a magistrate without unnecessary delay in order for a confession made during detention to be admissible

   Note: In practice, the rule is not absolute. Under the U.S. Code, a delay of more than six hours in bringing an arrestee before a magistrate will not render a confession inadmissible if the delay was reasonable in light of distance and transportation.