Category Archives: Burden of proof

IA: Dashcam video not conclusive evidence of justification for stop

The dashcam video of defendant’s stop wasn’t all that clear, and the trial court credited the officer’s testimony defendant drove some on the wrong side of the road at night in snowy conditions. That’s entitled to deference, as are reasonable … Continue reading

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DE: State failed in burden of proof on basis for stop

The state put on nothing at the suppression hearing to show that the stop was justified. Suppressed. State v. Skinner, 2023 Del. Super. LEXIS 96 (Feb. 10, 2023):*

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E.D.Ky.: Failure to cross-examine at trial on some contradictions from SW affidavit was not IAC

Defendant’s 2255 ineffective assistance of counsel claim in part challenged defense counsel’s failure to cross-examine over contradictions in a search warrant affidavit by the witness. The government doesn’t address this, and assuming it was defective performance, the court finds a … Continue reading

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Three on what the dashcam didn’t show

Just because the dashcam video doesn’t show the traffic violation doesn’t mean that it didn’t happen. The trooper testified that what he sees might be slightly different but still true. State v. Moore, 2023-Ohio-494, 2023 Ohio App. LEXIS 517 (4th … Continue reading

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WI: A description of a Harley in Wisconsin in April is generic and not RS

The description of the offending vehicle as a Harley in Wisconsin is so generic it can’t support a stop. “After all, Wisconsin is the home of Harley-Davidson, and it is one of, if not the most popular manufacturers of motorcycles … Continue reading

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IN: Mistake of law to an illegal search or seizure applies to the scope of the law, not whether it even exists

The mistake of law “defense” to an illegal search or seizure applies to the scope of the law, not whether it even exists. Here, it didn’t. White v. State, 2022 Ind. App. LEXIS 390 (Dec. 8, 2022). The specific characteristics … Continue reading

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D.Alaska: On reconsideration, govt revealed officer misconduct, and court finds him not credible

After defendant’s motion to suppress was denied, the government alerted the court and defense to an internal investigation of the state trooper involved just concluded where 43 instances of violation of policy and procedure were documented. The search here turned … Continue reading

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D.Minn.: Govt fails on its burden of proving GFE applies; no witnesses called

The search warrant for defendant’s cell phone lacked probable cause for lack of specificity. More importantly, the government failed in its burden of proof to show the good faith exception applies. United States v. Armstrong, 2022 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 207602 … Continue reading

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E.D.Cal.: Govt failed in its burden of proof on justification for protective sweep

The court finds, with the evidence in equipoise, the government didn’t meet its burden of showing the arrest happened inside defendant’s house or outside. This is critical, because the police did a protective sweep and used that to get a … Continue reading

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MA: Ptf stated claim for unjustified community caretaking entry to investigate alleged elder abuse

Plaintiff was caring for a 95-year-old retired priest. She stated a claim for a Fourth Amendment violation for a warrantless entry into her house, in part, under the community caretaking function without justification. Gallagher v. S. Shore Hosp., Inc., 2022 … Continue reading

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S.D.N.Y.: Court has no jurisdiction to interfere with a laptop search initiated in another district

“The Court will not interfere with the Government’s review of the laptop pursuant to a search warrant obtained from a different Court — except to require the Government to submit a status update no later than October 28, 2022. As … Continue reading

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MN: When prosecution shows private search doctrine applies, defense has burden to show government action

When a defendant moves to suppress the evidence obtained from a warrantless search and the State proves that the private search doctrine applies, the burden to show that the private party was acting on behalf of the government falls on … Continue reading

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PA: State bears initial burden of showing lack of REP that def must meet

In Pennsylvania, the state has to attempt to show a lack of reasonable expectation of privacy before it can argue a lack of standing. Here, it acquiesced in standing until after it lost the suppression argument, and that’s too late. … Continue reading

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VA: Police call to medical emergency developed into invalid consent for drug search

Police responded to a medical emergency and it turned into a narcotics investigation without reasonable suspicion. Defendant’s consent when surrounded by three police officers, one of whom thought it was a narcotics stop, was involuntary and the consent is suppressed. … Continue reading

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TX4: No REP in totaled car at the wrecker yard

Defendant totaled his car in an accident. The black box evidence was sought by warrant, but the court holds that defendant effectively abandoned the car to the wrecking yard. Vitela v. State, 2022 Tex. App. LEXIS 2759 (Tex. App. – … Continue reading

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OR: Syringe was plain view even if not contraband per se

A syringe, although not contraband per se, satisfied the immediately apparent prong of plain view. State v. Wise-Welsh, 318 Ore. App. 146, 2022 Ore. App. LEXIS 357 (Mar. 2, 2022). “Given these inconsistences, it is impossible to determine ‘exactly what … Continue reading

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E.D.Cal.: Overbreadth argument has to be developed; court won’t make it for you

The officer picking up defendant’s cell phone and the screen lighting up was not a search. It was inadvertent, and the phone had to be picked up to do anything with it. Even if it was, the exclusionary rule should … Continue reading

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S.D.Ind.: The state used Google satellite images to corroborate officer’s testimony of stop

The government used Google satellite images and distancing to corroborate the officer’s testimony defendant didn’t signal his turn in time. After the stop, the smell of marijuana was apparent. United States v. Miles, 2022 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14860 (S.D.Ind. Jan. … Continue reading

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ND: A prima facie showing of an illegal search or seizure shifts burden to state to justify

“If a defendant makes a prima facie showing of an illegal search or seizure, the burden shifts to the government to show an exception applies.” Here there was no seizure until the officer took defendant’s keys and turned off his … Continue reading

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CA1: Burden on “neutral and detached magistrate” is on defense, and here the showing was speculative

The search warrant issuing magistrate’s husband was a doctor and a potential victim of a DoS cyberattack at a children’s hospital in Boston, allegedly perpetrated for personal reasons. The claim the USMJ was not neutral and detached is speculative. “But … Continue reading

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