Category Archives: Warrant papers

CO: Typo in date (9/9 v. 9/30) in SW affidavit could be overlooked by other contents referring to previous few hours; GFE also applies

The typographical error in the affidavit showing the date as September 9th when it should have been September 30th could be overlooked because the affidavit as a whole referred to the previous few hours, and the good faith exception applies. … Continue reading

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CA11: Mere fact of a firearm in the home wasn’t exigency here

“Although Officer Plesnik now arrived with the knowledge that there was a firearm on site, the mere presence of a firearm—without more—did not transform the non-exigent scene into an exigent circumstance and trigger the emergency aid exception. Indeed, by the … Continue reading

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N.D.Ala.: Wrong street number in a SW didn’t void it where house was well described and officers had been there before

The wrong street number on the search warrant did not make it invalid. Officers knew the house from surveillance, and it was described. The right house was searched. “So, the erroneous street number did not make the warrant invalid.” Threatt … Continue reading

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M.D.Ga.: No standing in packages sent to one’s address but with all different names on them

Defendant failed to show standing in packages searched coming to an address he claimed as his “primary address,” but the addressee and sender were not him. United States v. Williams, 2023 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 26755 (M.D. Ga. Feb. 16, 2023). … Continue reading

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NE: Failure to deliver SW to def not 4A violation and doesn’t warrant suppression

Defendant was the subject of a search warrant for a blood draw. The fact he wasn’t given a copy of the warrant doesn’t require reversal. He clearly knew what was going on. State v. Svendgard, 31 Neb. App. 596, 2023 … Continue reading

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NY2: SW papers provided to GJ aren’t discoverable because of GJ secrecy

Defendant sought search warrant materials presented to the grand jury. Denied because of grand jury secrecy. Sculti v. Finley, 2022 NY Slip Op 06950, 2022 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 6820 (2d Dept. Dec. 7, 2022). Defendant had no standing in … Continue reading

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W.D.Pa.: All Writs Act proceeding for tracking order is a judicial proceeding for common law right of access to records

An All Writs Act proceeding by the government to track someone in real time back in 2020 is a judicial record subject to the common law right of disclosure of court records. In re Forbes Media LLC, 2022 U.S. Dist. … Continue reading

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D.Minn.: Lindell SW affidavit remains under seal to protect investigation

In the Lindell cell phone search warrant case, the media seeks access to the affidavit. The government has established that, despite the vast public interest, the affidavit should remain sealed while the investigation progresses. In re Search Warrant, 2022 U.S. … Continue reading

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M.D.Fla.: Lack of a notary seal on state SW papers is a frivolous 4A issue

The Fourth Amendment argument that lack of a notary seal on Florida search warrant papers makes it void is frivolous. Amalfitano v. United States, 2022 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 209729 (M.D. Fla. Nov. 18, 2022). An officer using a dead man’s … Continue reading

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techdirt: Mississippi Courts Are Helping Cops Keep Search Warrants Out Of The Public’s Hands

techdirt: Mississippi Courts Are Helping Cops Keep Search Warrants Out Of The Public’s Hands by Tim Cushing (“No-knock warrants remain under fire as they continue to needlessly increase the death toll of residents who often have no idea who’s violently … Continue reading

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Cal.4th: SW papers for cell site simulators remain under seal because CIs are identified in there

EFF sued for access to search warrant materials that led to use of cell site simulators. The court finds that the protection of named CIs in the papers still needs to be protected, and they remain under seal. Electronic Frontier … Continue reading

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D.D.C.: SW affidavit unsealed in part, protects identity of witnesses

The search warrant for Sen. Burr’s cell phone is unsealed in part after about a year under the common law right of access to judicial records. In re L.A. Times Communs. LLC to Unseal Court Records, 2022 U.S. Dist. LEXIS … Continue reading

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S.D.Fla.: Threats against LEOs involved in execution of SW requires affidavit remain sealed

Public threats against FBI agents involved in the search requires leaving the affidavit for the search warrant under seal. In re Warrant, 2022 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 150388 (S.D. Fla. Aug. 22, 2022). Defendant’s traffic stop was factually based and not … Continue reading

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MS: Minor errors in paperwork didn’t obscure a thing and didn’t prejudice def

Minor errors in the paperwork for the warrant were not prejudicial to defendant. There was no challenge to probable cause, and the papers as a whole show the warrant timely executed after issuance. Jenkins v. State, 2022 Miss. App. LEXIS … Continue reading

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CA6: No 4A requirement to file SW before execution

No case says that failure to file a search warrant before it is executed violates the Fourth Amendment (or state law, not that state law matters in federal court). United States v. Dixon, 2022 U.S. App. LEXIS 19457 (6th Cir. … Continue reading

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N.D.Ind.: Typo in SW home address was cured by picture of house

A typo in defendant’s home address was not prejudicial where there was a picture of the house included in the warrant. Thus, no ineffective assistance of counsel for not challenging it. Kassay v. United States, 2022 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 116669 … Continue reading

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CO: State can’t pile hunch on hunch to try to get to PC

“Colorado State Patrol (‘CSP’) Trooper Christian Bollen had a hunch, and then another hunch, and then another hunch. And he acted on those hunches, despite a circumstance directly undermining them.” “An officer’s hunch is insufficient to establish reasonable suspicion to … Continue reading

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D.Conn.: Handcuffing did not turn this stop into an arrest

Handcuffing did not turn this stop into an arrest. United States v. Walker, 2022 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 108170 (D.Conn. June 17, 2022).* Petitioner’s 2254 claim was based on ineffective assistance of counsel for waiver of his claim that he was … Continue reading

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CA9: Failure to deliver SW at scene of search violated Rule 41, but no suppression here

Failure to deliver the whole search warrant to defendant violated Rule 41(f)(1)(C), but it wasn’t deliberate so no suppression. United States v. Manaku, 2022 U.S. App. LEXIS 16337 (9th Cir. June 14, 2022). 2254 petitioner’s ineffective assistance of counsel for … Continue reading

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OH7: Attached affidavit made SW particular

While the search warrant wasn’t particular, it incorporated the affidavit which was. State v. Bugno, 2022-Ohio-2008, 2022 Ohio App. LEXIS 1882 (7th Dist. June 9, 2022). The emergency aid exception applies: “[T]he presence of blood on the premises, coupled with … Continue reading

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