Category Archives: Neutral and detached magistrate

CA9: Even if 5th and 6th shots into decedent’s body were unreasonable, the officer gets QI

Even if the jury could conclude that the fifth and sixth shots into decedent’s body were unreasonable, the officer was entitled to qualified immunity because decedent was trying to get up and there’s no clearly established law. Est. of Hernandez … Continue reading

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W.D.Ky.: Boilerplate in affidavit doesn’t matter if the critical facts show PC

Boilerplate information in the affidavit for warrant doesn’t matter as long as the critical facts show probable cause, and here they did. There were five facts supporting probable cause. United States v. Morton, 2024 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7580 (W.D. Ky. … Continue reading

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CA4: No absolute immunity for a judge involved in search of ex’s property over their divorce

“We consider in this appeal whether a judge who participates in the search of a litigant’s home is entitled to judicial immunity for actions related to the search. Judge Louise Goldston went to Matthew Gibson’s residence to look for items … Continue reading

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CA6: State issuing magistrate’s failure to transcribe supplemental information for PC was not enough to suppress

The affidavit and supplementing testimony provided substantial probable cause for issuance of the warrant. State law requires any testimony supplementing a search warrant affidavit be preserved and transcribed. The state issuing magistrate failed. The officer, however, acted in good faith, … Continue reading

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D.Nev.: Ability to manage day-to-day operations doesn’t give standing over whole business space

(1) “Accordingly, although Defendant had the discretion to manage the day-to-day operation of LLB, the Court finds he did not actually manage the day-to-day operations of the business.” “In this context, ownership of premises alone does not automatically confer standing. … Continue reading

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OH4: No bar to judge who issued SW also hearing suppression motion

There is no due process or judicial ethics restriction on a suppression hearing judge hearing the validity of the warrant he or she issued. State v. Taylor, 2023-Ohio-2995, 2023 Ohio App. LEXIS 2982 n.1 (4th Dist. Aug. 22, 2023):

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Forbes: Will The Judge Who Let Police Raid A Small Kansas Newspaper Be Held Accountable?

Forbes: Will The Judge Who Let Police Raid A Small Kansas Newspaper Be Held Accountable? by Andrew Wimer:

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DE: SW issuing magistrate not barred from hearing suppression motion

The suppression hearing judge is not disqualified just because he or she considered the affidavit and issued the search warrant. Willis v. State, 2023 Del. LEXIS 238 (July 24, 2023). Setting inaccuracies in the search warrant affidavit aside, there was … Continue reading

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CA11: Magistrate who came to the scene to sign SW was still neutral and detached

The issuing magistrate was still neutral and detached. He came to the location of the search to assist in getting the warrant issued, but he stayed away from the building and signed the paperwork. He did not get involved or … Continue reading

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CA8: SW issuing judge not “neutral and detached” just because he didn’t ask questions

A search warrant in Killeen, Texas was issued to look for evidence of a Hobbs Act murder in Lincoln, Nebraska. The affidavit combined information from Texas and Nebraska. There was potential confusion as to whose information was whose but it … Continue reading

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M.D.Fla.: The fact a USMJ issued SW doesn’t preclude that judge from hearing a motion to suppress

The fact a USMJ issued a search warrant doesn’t preclude that judge from hearing a motion to suppress. United States v. Silva, 2022 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 233243 (M.D. Fla. Dec. 29, 2022). State court’s finding of procedural default on Fourth … Continue reading

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M.D.Fla.: 14 years of emails in a complicated tax fraud scheme wasn’t overbroad

Fourteen years worth of emails wasn’t overbroad here. “The case involves a complex tax evasion scheme taking place over many years and across international borders. A wide variety of documents would be relevant to prove this scheme. The warrant in … Continue reading

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CA10: State SW issued for DNA in Indian country was still in good faith

A state search warrant for defendant’s DNA for an offense in Indian Country was relied upon in good faith, despite defendant’s contention the warrant was issued by an issuing authority outside the jurisdiction. McGirt doesn’t change this. United States v. … Continue reading

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MD: Appointment of state trial judges not 4A violation; they have statewide jurisdiction for SWs

Maryland trial judges have statewide jurisdiction for search warrants. Thus, the assignment of judges in Baltimore by the Chief Judge of the state high court violated nothing under the Fourth Amendment. (Without citing Virginia v. Moore. And, even if it … Continue reading

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D.D.C.: DC USMJ can issue SW for iPhone in Texas in domestic terrorism investigation

A USMJ in the District of Columbia has authority to issue a search warrant for an iPhone in Texas in a domestic terrorism investigation tied to the January 6th attack on the Capitol. In the Matter of the Search of … Continue reading

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N.D.Ga.: Former AUSA as USMJ not automatically recused from hearing motion to suppress

The USMJ hearing the motion to suppress in this case was earlier an AUSA in the office prosecuting it. She had nothing to do with this case, so recusal is not required. (“Neutral and detached” never mentioned.) United States v. … Continue reading

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OH: Plastic baggie caught in bookbag zipper wasn’t “immediately apparent” for plain view

“While executing an arrest warrant, police discovered a closed bookbag with a plastic baggie stuck in its zipper. Without obtaining a search warrant, they opened the bookbag and discovered illegal drugs. The question for us is whether the warrantless search … Continue reading

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OH4: Allegation of delay in SW execution until def was present didn’t make it unreasonable

The officers’ delay in executing the search warrant for defendant’s property until he was there so he could be searched, too, was not unreasonable. The warrant had not gone stale by the time it was executed. State v. Alexander, 2022-Ohio-1812, … Continue reading

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MT: Magistrate’s jurisdiction for SW is over place it could be found, not crime

The geographic limitation on magistrates issuing search warrants applies to the location of the evidence sought, not the location of the crime. State v. Grussing, 2022 MT 76, 2022 Mont. LEXIS 319 (Apr. 12, 2022). The telecommunication records here could … Continue reading

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D.Guam: Issuing magistrate’s later recusal for knowing target’s dad doesn’t show he wasn’t neutral and detached

After search warrant was issued, the issuing magistrate recused from the rest of the matter because defendant’s father was a longstanding employee of the court. There apparently was no relationship with defendant. This did not present a constitutional problem for … Continue reading

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