Daily Archives: January 9, 2020

TN: Defense counsel not ineffective for recommending guilty plea where motion to suppress denied and case would have gone to trial on other counts even if granted

Defendant challenges on post-conviction his counsel being ineffective in recommending a guilty plea after the motion to suppress was denied. Even if it had been granted, defendant was going to trial on other counts, and he can’t show that defense … Continue reading

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D.Utah: Unlatching but not opening car door to look inside then shutting it was attenuated from dog sniff that gave PC

Officers unlatched the door of a suspicious car parked on an cul-de-sac away from houses, and the car was suspected of a theft from a Sam’s store. The door was shut without looking inside and then a drug dog was … Continue reading

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E.D.Pa.: Leaked existence of federal SW that had press there before the SW results in statutory damages award

Plaintiff sued the government because the IRS and FBI leaked to the media a search warrant for his premises and the media was there. He got $1000 in statutory damages. He filed an untimely motion to reopen based on alleged … Continue reading

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CA7 (en banc): Heck bar overcome by pardon, which started SOL

Plaintiff sued for malicious prosecution after he was imprisoned for a 1977 murder, paroled, and finally pardoned by the Governor. The pardon overcame the Heck bar, and the claim became ripe with the pardon. The court takes the occasion to … Continue reading

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C.D.Ill.: Seemingly idle questions during a traffic stop didn’t unreasonably extend it in any “measurable way”

Seemingly idle questions during a traffic stop didn’t unreasonably extend it in any “measurable way.” United States v. Goodwill, 2020 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1831 (C.D. Ill. Jan. 3, 2020):

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S.D.Ga.: Stopping writing traffic ticket to ask about drugs without RS violated Rodriguez

The officer’s intentional delaying issuance of a traffic ticket was to ask about transporting drugs, even though only 100 seconds, was unreasonable under Rodriguez because it was an intentional deviation from the mission of the stop. United States v. Brinson, … Continue reading

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NC: Reasonable force can be used for a DUI blood draw under SW when def refuses

Officers had a search warrant for defendant’s blood while he was in the hospital for an accident. Relying on United States v. Bullock, 71 F.3d 171 (5th Cir. 1995), the court concludes that reasonable force can be used to take … Continue reading

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GA: Smell of alcohol on person maybe a minor walking in a high crime area wasn’t RS

“Further, the other facts identified by the State do not support a reasonable suspicion of illegal activity. None of C.B.’s described activities—walking on the side of the road at night, being present in a high-crime area, wearing a backpack, and … Continue reading

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D.C.Cir.: Dewey and Mine Safety Act provide for no precompliance warning or review before inspection

The petitioner here was a contractor working at a mine, and a mine safety inspector looked at equipment and cited the contractor a $116 fine. The ALJ denied relief, and, on a petition for review of the fine, the court … Continue reading

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NYTimes: F.B.I. Asks Apple to Help Unlock Two iPhones

NYTimes: F.B.I. Asks Apple to Help Unlock Two iPhones by Jack Nicas and Katie Benner (“The request could reignite a fight between the Silicon Valley giant and law enforcement over access to encrypted technology.”)

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