Category Archives: Consent

MI: PC for SW completely lacking, so no GFE

“As noted by dissenting Judge Garrett, the search-warrant affidavit failed to connect the firearms and firearm-related items listed in the search warrant with the suspected criminal activity. Therefore, there was not probable cause to believe ‘that contraband or evidence of … Continue reading

Posted in Consent, Probable cause, Rule 41(g) / Return of property | Comments Off on MI: PC for SW completely lacking, so no GFE

NC: Admin. tax warrant search of house violated 4A

Search under a general administrative tax warrant under state law violates the Fourth Amendment. This involved a search of a house where the taxes were not paid on illegal drugs. Also, it was issued by the Secretary of Revenue and … Continue reading

Posted in Administrative search, Consent, Informant hearsay, Neutral and detached magistrate, Probable cause, Warrant papers | Comments Off on NC: Admin. tax warrant search of house violated 4A

N.D.Tex.: Merely being a federal contractor doesn’t make employer’s search state action

Being a federal contractor wasn’t enough to make defendant food service company a state actor. Ellis v. Ben E. Keith Co., 2025 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 217957 (N.D. Tex. Oct. 1, 2025). Officers had a warrant for the place searched and … Continue reading

Posted in Consent, Private search, Scope of search | Comments Off on N.D.Tex.: Merely being a federal contractor doesn’t make employer’s search state action

W.D.Ky.: No requirement cell phone search protocol be specified in the SW

There is no requirement in the Sixth Circuit for a cell phone search protocol to be specified in the search warrant. United States v. Lanham, 2025 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 202782 (W.D. Ky. Oct. 14, 2025). There was probable cause defendant … Continue reading

Posted in Cell phones, Consent, Probable cause, Reasonable suspicion, Warrant execution | Comments Off on W.D.Ky.: No requirement cell phone search protocol be specified in the SW

D.Minn.: Def’s lies supported finding of consent to search

Despite defendant having some cognitive difficulties, the court concludes his lies to the officer before consenting still supported consent. The ability to lie shows knowledge. United States v. Lumbert, 2025 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 201199 (D. Minn. Aug. 13, 2025):

Posted in Consent | Comments Off on D.Minn.: Def’s lies supported finding of consent to search

CT: No REP in DNA recovered from trash search that connected def to a 36-year-old cold case

Defendant became a suspect in 2020 for cold cases from 1984. A trash search produced a discarded belt that was DNA tested, seemingly matching him to the 1984 crimes. A confirmatory test was done by warrant. Defendant had no reasonable … Continue reading

Posted in Consent, Protective sweep, Reasonable expectation of privacy | Comments Off on CT: No REP in DNA recovered from trash search that connected def to a 36-year-old cold case

S.D.N.Y.: Legal mail can be copied for inmate to guard against disguised legal mail

Prisons can copy legal mail in presence of the inmate to guard against contraband coming in disguised as legal mail. Prisoners’ Legal Servs. of N.Y. v. United States Dep’t of Homeland Sec., 2025 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 195443 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 5, … Continue reading

Posted in Abandonment, Consent, Informant hearsay, Mail and packages, Prison and jail searches | Comments Off on S.D.N.Y.: Legal mail can be copied for inmate to guard against disguised legal mail

HI: No REP in IP information

There is no Fourth Amendment protection in one’s subscriber information provided to a third-party internet service provider and its link to an IP address. State v. Brown, 2025 Haw. LEXIS 268 (Sep. 30, 2025).* The state contends defendant had no … Continue reading

Posted in Consent, Emergency / exigency, Franks doctrine, Reasonable expectation of privacy | Comments Off on HI: No REP in IP information

C.D.Cal.: Handcuffing an inmate is not a 4A violation

“Plaintiff’s only purported basis for a Fourth Amendment claim is a vague assertion that ‘handcuff/restraints = false report.’ (Compl. at 6). Liberally construed, this appears to suggest that Plaintiff allegedly was seized without sufficient cause. In the prison context, however, … Continue reading

Posted in Consent, Prison and jail searches, Warrant papers | Comments Off on C.D.Cal.: Handcuffing an inmate is not a 4A violation

D.S.C.: Police and issuing magistrate having same address doesn’t make judge not neutral and detached

Just because the issuing magistrate and the police department share the same address does not prove that the magistrate was not neutral and detached. More is required. Lafoy v. O’Brien, 2025 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 190411 (D.S.C. Aug. 18, 2025). “Even … Continue reading

Posted in Consent, Emergency / exigency, Neutral and detached magistrate | Comments Off on D.S.C.: Police and issuing magistrate having same address doesn’t make judge not neutral and detached

TX2: Asking for consent four times doesn’t make it coercive

The fact defendant was asked four times for consent doesn’t make it coercive. Arnold v. State, 2025 Tex. App. LEXIS 7228 (Tex. App. – Ft. Worth Sep. 11, 2025). Velez finally contends that no reasonable officer could have concluded that … Continue reading

Posted in Consent, Excessive force, Scope of search, Voluntariness | Comments Off on TX2: Asking for consent four times doesn’t make it coercive

W.D.Wash.: Hiding a small pouch in another’s car was not abandonment; he retained a REP

Defendant’s hiding a small pouch in another person’s car was not abandonment. He otherwise manifested a reasonable expectation of privacy in it. United States v. Jensen, 2025 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 170474 (W.D. Wash. Sep. 2, 2025). Defendant’s encounter with the … Continue reading

Posted in Consent, Franks doctrine, Probable cause, Reasonable expectation of privacy | Comments Off on W.D.Wash.: Hiding a small pouch in another’s car was not abandonment; he retained a REP

E.D.Cal.: Excessive prison strip search sufficiently alleged

Prison strip search: “Here, liberally construed, it appears plaintiff may be able to state a Fourth Amendment claim against the defendants who stripped plaintiff naked where it is alleged that plaintiff was brought to the ASU from the program office … Continue reading

Posted in Cell phones, Consent, Prison and jail searches, Probable cause, Strip search | Comments Off on E.D.Cal.: Excessive prison strip search sufficiently alleged

MD: Pretext inquiry under state constitution same as 4A

Appellant shows no basis for construing pretextual stops under the state constitution differently than the Fourth Amendment. Riley v. State, 2025 Md. App. LEXIS 727 (Aug. 27, 2025).* Defendant’s encounter with the officer here after one with mall security was … Continue reading

Posted in Consent, Franks doctrine, Pretext, Probable cause, State constitution | Comments Off on MD: Pretext inquiry under state constitution same as 4A

D.N.M.: Def’s consent to search vehicle permitted partial dismantling and use of x-ray

Defendant’s consent to a full search of his vehicle included dismantling parts of it and using a portable x-ray to look in closed spaces. United States v. Talamante-Sanchez, 2025 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 168814 (D.N.M. Aug. 29, 2025). Plaintiff sovereign citizen’s … Continue reading

Posted in Consent, Good faith exception, Scope of search, Waiver | Comments Off on D.N.M.: Def’s consent to search vehicle permitted partial dismantling and use of x-ray

NJ: Seeing def enter phone passcode in officer’s presence wasn’t unreasonable seizure

Officer seeing defendant enter cell phone passcode violated no reasonable expectation of privacy or Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. State v. Ellison, 2025 N.J. Super. LEXIS 60 (Aug. 19, 2025). Update: NJ Panel Upholds Use Of Phone Passcode Seen By … Continue reading

Posted in § 1983 / Bivens, Cell phones, Consent, Privileges, Probation / Parole search | Comments Off on NJ: Seeing def enter phone passcode in officer’s presence wasn’t unreasonable seizure

CA8: Consent still found although def had to be wrestled to be handcuffed because of gun involved

Defendant was a Greyhound passenger from LA to KC, and a dog got a whiff of his fanny pack and alerted. He admitted marijuana was in the bag. Then a gun, which led to a struggle when he wouldn’t keep … Continue reading

Posted in Consent | Comments Off on CA8: Consent still found although def had to be wrestled to be handcuffed because of gun involved

OH6: Refusing consent to search cell phone can’t be sentencing aggravator

Defendant had a constitutional right to refuse consent to search his cell phone, and the trial court erred by considering that as an aggravating factor in sentencing. State v. Dawes, 2025-Ohio-2576, 2025 Ohio App. LEXIS 2500 (6th Dist. July 22, … Continue reading

Posted in Arrest or entry on arrest, Cell phones, Consent, Reasonable suspicion, State constitution | Comments Off on OH6: Refusing consent to search cell phone can’t be sentencing aggravator

D.C.Cir.: Officer saying he had “warrants” required remand for whether consent was mere acquiescence

The district court erred in not considering whether defendant acquiesced in consenting to a search. The officer said he had “warrants,” but there was no clarification whether it was an arrest warrant or search warrant. Reversed. United States v. Glover, … Continue reading

Posted in Consent, Voluntariness | Comments Off on D.C.Cir.: Officer saying he had “warrants” required remand for whether consent was mere acquiescence

CA3: Driveway was not curtilage

Defendant’s driveway was not curtilage, so his stop and ultimate search of the car was not in violation of the Fourth Amendment. United States v. Moses, 2025 U.S. App. LEXIS 16484 (3d Cir. July 3, 2025). De minimis force, even … Continue reading

Posted in Automobile exception, Consent, Curtilage, Excessive force, Probable cause | Comments Off on CA3: Driveway was not curtilage