Category Archives: Motion to suppress

CA5: Failure to plead facts in motion to suppress that would justify relief doesn’t require a hearing

The district court didn’t abuse its discretion in denying the motion to suppress without a hearing for failure to plead “facts that would justify relief.” United States v. Smith, 2020 U.S. App. LEXIS 32024 (5th Cir. Oct. 8, 2020):

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D.Idaho: Even if smell of MJ only justifies search of passenger compartment, finding nothing extends it to trunk

Defendant argues that the smell of marijuana during a traffic stop only permitted a search of the passenger compartment of his vehicle. When the officer didn’t find any marijuana there, it was justified to search the trunk. United States v. … Continue reading

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D.Utah: Ex ante motion to suppress before SW executed denied without prejudice; must follow search

Movant has notice of a search warrant not yet executed. Her ex ante motion to quash the search warrant is denied without prejudice. Under Rule 41(h), the motion should be filed after the search occurs. United States v. Richards, 2020 … Continue reading

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TN: No right to reconsideration of denial of motion to suppress on transfer to a different trial judge after denial

After the case was transferred to a different judge after denial of a motion to suppress, defendant sought reconsideration of denial of his suppression motion. He didn’t show that there was justification for reconsideration because of new evidence or other … Continue reading

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CA11: Officers executing a SW at a house can approach an occupied car parked out front

“The district court did not err by denying Turner’s motion to suppress. Delgado was entitled, ‘without any level of suspicion,’ to approach a car in a dangerous locale with an unknown number of occupants parked near a residence where he … Continue reading

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Cal.: Defense has to put state on notice of issues in motion to suppress

When the defense makes a motion to suppress, it is obligated to put the state on notice as to all the issues. This suppression hearing took nine days, and still the defense claims the state didn’t fully get the issues. … Continue reading

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D.Minn.: Motion to suppress denied for lack of specificity

Defendant’s motion to suppress is denied for lack of specificity. United States v. Zuniga-Garcia, 2020 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 122220 (D. Minn. June 24, 2020). There was probable cause for the search warrant, despite the claimed Franks violation which was not … Continue reading

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CA2: IAC claim not proper on motion for new trial

The district court acted within its discretion to deny a motion for new trial on an ineffective assistance of counsel claim for not moving to suppress before the trial. Defendant can raise it in post-conviction. United States v. Atuana, 2020 … Continue reading

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CA7: Even though the 4A was complied with, if the question is relevance or prejudice, a motion in limine is proper, not a motion to suppress

Just because the Fourth Amendment was complied with doesn’t mean that the evidence seized is relevant (Rule 401) or the evidence could be more prejudicial than relevant (Rule 403). Then, suppression isn’t the remedy – a motion in limine is. … Continue reading

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NE: Def’s purse could be searched under automobile exception even though it had already been removed from car

Defendant’s purse was validly searched under the automobile exception after the backup officer smelled marijuana coming from the car. It didn’t matter that it wasn’t in the car at the time of the search. State v. Lang, 305 Neb. 726 … Continue reading

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Two on waiver for untimeliness

Pro se defendant making a motion to suppress during trial was waiver. He talked about it with his former attorney and waited until the government offered it into evidence. United States v. Young, 2020 U.S. App. LEXIS 10820 (7th Cir. … Continue reading

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CA11: Failure to join in the codef’s motion to suppress is waiver

Failure to join in the codefendant’s motion to suppress is waiver. United States v. Russa, 2020 U.S. App. LEXIS 9288 (11th Cir. Mar. 25, 2020). In a 2254 COA: “Assuming that counsel was deficient in failing to raise the plain-view … Continue reading

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D.Alaska: No Franks duty to tell issuing magistrate of failed challenges to same CP search software elsewhere

The FBI agent applying for the search warrant had no Franks duty to tell the issuing magistrate that Torrential Downpour, the software they were using, had been challenged elsewhere where the challenges had failed. United States v. Schwier, 2020 U.S. … Continue reading

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D.Nev.: No motions through six continuances and past motions deadline all untimely

After six continuances in 18 months or so, the defendants’ motion to suppress and other motions filed on the eve of trial are denied as untimely. United States v. Phillips, 2020 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 42782 (D. Nev. Mar. 11, 2020). … Continue reading

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OH: Lack of RS for stop or knowledge of an arrest warrant denies state reliance on Strieff for outstanding warrant

Defendant was sitting in a car near a drug house doing nothing wrong. Police accosted him under the pretext there might be a warrant for him. It turned out there was. Even applying Strieff, the court concludes that Strieff was … Continue reading

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E.D.Mich.: No ex ante opportunity for email account holder to challenge SW

Targets of an email search warrant lack standing to challenge the search warrant ex ante, before execution. They must do so after. In the Matter of the Search of Records, Information, and Data Associated with 14 Email Addresses Controlled by … Continue reading

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Cal.: Mid-trial objection to question based on lack of PC for search was untimely objection to the search

A mid-trial objection to evidence on the ground there was no probable cause for the police action in the search was untimely. It can only be brought during trial if the facts weren’t known until then, and that’s not what … Continue reading

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D.Nev.: Def’s motion to join codef’s motion to suppress requires showing of REP in joinder motion

Defendant’s motion to join a codefendant’s motion to suppress requires a showing of his reasonable expectation of privacy in the joinder motion. United States v. Palafox, 2020 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3698 (D. Nev. Jan. 7, 2020). “[T]he affidavit includes facts … Continue reading

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GA: Lack of a particularized motion to suppress didn’t preserve 4A claim for appeal

Defendant did not file a particularized motion to suppress, so he couldn’t raise the issue on appeal. State v. Walker, 2019 Ga. App. LEXIS 266 (May 17, 2019). Defendant’s statement during the course of the search of his house was … Continue reading

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CA2: Failure to make an offer of proof in motion to suppress means denial of the motion

“For starters, Ferrer was not entitled to a hearing on his motion to suppress. The motion, filed by counsel, was unaccompanied by any affidavit to support the charge that Ferrer was subjected to ‘an unlawful police-initiated interrogation.’ Gov’t App’x 2. … Continue reading

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