NJ: Destruction by policy of audio of telephonic SW application required suppression even without bad faith

This case proceeded on a telephonic search warrant where the application was recorded as required by law. The recording, however, was destroyed in 90 days under the department’s records retention policy. While the destruction wasn’t in bad faith, the recording is fundamental to the warrant process in New Jersey, and the search is suppressed. Defendant wasn’t indicted immediately, and he promptly filed a discovery motion, but the recording was already gone. State v. J.L., 2020 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 1063 (June 5, 2020) (unpublished).*

“Even if we consider the information regarding the marijuana blunts in plain view as false and thus omit it, the affidavit nonetheless provided probable cause to issue the warrant.” McMurray v. State, 2020 Ga. App. LEXIS 325 (June 5, 2020).*

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