Category Archives: Standards of review

W.D.N.C.: Alleged distinction between smell of MJ and hemp not material here

The distinction between the smell of legal hemp and illegal marijuana wasn’t material where the officer testified he smelled marijuana. United States v. Harris, 2023 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 164723 (W.D.N.C. Sep. 14, 2023).* Defendant was speeding. The stop produced a … Continue reading

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CA8: Motion to suppress via motion for judgment of acquittal results in plain error review

Defendant’s motion to suppress was made as a motion for judgment of acquittal, so it was subject to plain error review, which it was not. United States v. Thornton, 2023 U.S. App. LEXIS 20109 (8th Cir. Aug. 4, 2023). “The … Continue reading

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E.D.Tenn.: Undated controlled buys had to be in five weeks before SW, and that’s not stale

The multiple controlled buys were undated in the search warrant application, but the common sense reading was that they were in the five weeks before the warrant issued. That shows an ongoing drug operation, and it’s not stale. United States … Continue reading

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N.D.Ga.: Failure to specify how the R&R was deficient on PC finding was waiver

“The Eleventh Circuit has made clear that a party must ‘pinpoint those portions of the magistrate’s report that the district court must specially consider.’ Schultz, 565 F.3d at 1361. Defendant has not done so here. In sum, Defendant’s one-sentence statement … Continue reading

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CA10: Overlong stop didn’t cause independent search incident

Defendant was subjected to a search incident for false identification. His overlong stop otherwise didn’t cause that. United States v. Anderson, 2023 U.S. App. LEXIS 5997 (10th Cir. Mar. 14, 2023).* “Teixeira struggles to throw shade on the reliability of … Continue reading

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CA7: Target of SW doesn’t have to be suspected of crime

A target of a search warrant does not have to be suspected of a crime. A holder of “mere evidence” can be subjected to a search warrant. United States v. Roland, 2023 U.S. App. LEXIS 4987 (7th Cir. Mar. 1, … Continue reading

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IN: Fundamental (plain) error of S&S claims requires the evidence be fabricated, not just unconstitutionally obtained

The fundamental error avenue to appeal an unobjected to search and seizure claim requires a showing that the evidence was all fabricated, not just that the search was bad. Evidence obtained by search and seizure is usually highly relevant to … Continue reading

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NY1: When state doesn’t challenge standing, it’s taken as conceded

When the state doesn’t challenge standing, it’s taken as conceded. The trial court thus erred in deciding standing. People v. Bonilla, 2022 NY Slip Op 07304, 2022 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 7136 (1st Dept. Dec. 22, 2022). Defendant had his … Continue reading

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AK: Exclusionary rule doesn’t apply to DV civil proceeding

The exclusionary rule does not apply in Domestic Violence Protective Order proceeding. Green v. State, 2022 Alas. LEXIS 140 (Dec. 14, 2022) (due process claim). Multiple calls between the CI and defendant arranging a fentanyl deal and defendant showing up … Continue reading

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CA5: Dog sniff of the person at the border does not require RS

A dog sniff of defendant’s person at the border did not require reasonable suspicion. United States v. Tenorio, 2022 U.S. App. LEXIS 33978 (5th Cir. Dec. 9, 2022). The credibility determinations on whether defendant was subjected to arrest or not … Continue reading

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GA: Consent to search backpack included laptop inside when def didn’t object

Defendant clearly consented to a search of his backpack. When the officer encountered his laptop and opened it to turn it on, defendant never objected. Winslow v. State, 2022 Ga. LEXIS 297 (Nov. 2, 2022). The underlying facts for reasonable … Continue reading

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D.Neb.: Affidavits for SWs are judged by what they contain, not what they lack

Affidavits for search warrants are judged by what they contain, not what they lack. United States v. Cass, 2022 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 195502 (D. Neb. Sep. 30, 2022), adopted, 2022 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 197043 (D.Neb. Oct. 26, 2022). It was … Continue reading

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SC: Request for consent with “do you mind” met with “I do but …” not voluntary. Also no RS for continuing stop.

“Here, even after accepting the trial court’s factual findings as we must do since they are supported by some evidence, we conclude that Hall lacked reasonable suspicion as a matter of law pursuant to de novo review.” As to consent, … Continue reading

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CA9: PC determination in underlying criminal case precludes review in later § 1983 case

Plaintiff’s probable cause determination in his underlying criminal case was given preclusive effect in his later § 1983 case. Wilcox v. City of L.A., 2022 U.S. App. LEXIS 24350 (9th Cir. Aug. 29, 2022). Plaintiff overcame qualified immunity. “Under Louisiana … Continue reading

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PA: Hot pursuit justified officer crossing jurisdictional lines

Hot pursuit justified an officer in one jurisdiction following defendants into another one after a robbery report on their car. Commonwealth v. Hobel, 2022 PA Super 86, 2022 Pa. Super. LEXIS 202 (May 10, 2022) (decided under state statute). “A … Continue reading

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D.Me.: Settled law at the time means exclusionary rule not applied, even if the law was later changing

Officers relied on settled law in this circuit that the search incident was valid. Maybe it wouldn’t be later, but it was at the time. The exclusionary rule should not be applied under Davis. “Given the similarity of these two … Continue reading

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CA11: 4A violation isn’t actual innocence claim for habeas

An alleged Fourth Amendment violation is not an actual innocence claim for habeas. “Fourth, he argues that he is actually innocent given that he was denied his right to counsel when investigators continued to interrogate him, despite his unequivocal request … Continue reading

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E.D.Tenn.: USDJ doesn’t second guess USMJ’s credibility determinations in the R&R

USDJ doesn’t second guess USMJ’s credibility determinations in the R&R on a motion to suppress. United States v. Bowman, 2022 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 69156 (E.D.Tenn. Apr. 14, 2022).* A bag left outdoors at an apartment complex for more than a … Continue reading

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W.D.Ky.: Crime victim with animosity toward def is not unreliable CI just because of that

A crime victim isn’t unreliable for informant hearsay just because of animosity toward the defendant. United States v. Collins, 2022 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 63999 (W.D.Ky. Feb. 7, 2022). The trial court erred in finding defendant’s consent to a blood draw … Continue reading

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CA8: Car seizure for overtinting and inventory were reasonable

Defendant’s car was permissibly seized for overtinting, and the subsequent search was reasonable as inventory. United States v. Perez, 2022 U.S. App. LEXIS 8697 (8th Cir. Apr. 1, 2022).* “Even assuming arguendo that Thrasher could make a substantial preliminary showing … Continue reading

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