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Probable Cause, Warrants, and Writs

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Probable Cause, Warrants, and Writs Presented by Timothy J. Murphy Presiding Judge City of Bedford Are you ready to answer questions about authority to issue Writs? • Are you ready to give the constitutional or statutory authority for taking a person’s freedom? • Are you ready for a subpoena requesting your testimony? • Has anyone been called to testify as a Judge or Magistrate? Objectives Identify the authority to issue writs Define probable cause Examine cases on probable cause Apply probable cause to scenarios Author Purpose of this lecture: • Think about the authority behind issuing Writs • Review procedures and policies • Nothing new just a review and organization of thoughts to help when you are asked… Why are Judges and Magistrates given authority to issue warrants? • Judges and Magistrates are “neutral and detached” • Thus serve as a buffer between the State and Citizens. Do Judges or Magistrates have a duty to review Warrants and other Writs? Magistrate Duty on warrant review • Art. 2.10. DUTY OF MAGISTRATES. It is the duty of every magistrate to preserve the peace within his jurisdiction by the use of all lawful means; to issue all process intended to aid in preventing and suppressing crime; to cause the arrest of offenders by the use of lawful means in order that they may be brought to punishment. Code of Judicial Ethics • Cannon 3 • (1) A judge shall hear and decide matters assigned to the judge except those in which disqualification is required or recusal is appropriate. • (9) A judge should dispose of all judicial matters promptly, efficiently and fairly. Is the duty to review warrants 24 hours a day? • Yes, it is part of the Judicial function as a Magistrate! • Does your jurisdiction have any rotation schedule? • Just turn the cell phone off? What is a Writ? a form of written command in the name of a court or other legal authority to act, or abstain from acting, in some way. Usual Writs issued by Magistrates or Judge: • Warrant • Capias • Capias Pro Fine The big two writs in the role of Magistrate: • Arrest Warrant CCP Art 15 • Search Warrant CCP Art 18 The big two writs in the role of Municipal Judge: • Arrest Warrant Art 45.014 • Capias Pro Fine Art 45.045 Authority and protection on writs: • 4th Amendment • Texas Constitution Article 1 Section 9 • Code of Criminal Procedure Article 1.06 AMENDMENT IV The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. Texas Constitutional Authority: Article 1 section 9 Sec. 9. SEARCHES AND SEIZURES. The people shall be secure in their persons, houses, papers and possessions, from all unreasonable seizures or searches, and no warrant to search any place, or to seize any person or thing, shall issue without describing them as near as may be, nor without probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation. Art. 1.06. SEARCHES AND SEIZURES. The people shall be secure in their persons, houses, papers and possessions from all unreasonable seizures or searches. No warrant to search any place or to seize any person or thing shall issue without describing them as near as may be, nor without probable cause supported by oath or affirmation. Authority to issue arrest warrants • 4th Amendment • Texas Article 1, section 9 • Art 1.06 CCP • Art 15.01 Authority to issue arrest warrants CHAPTER 15. ARREST UNDER WARRANT Art. 15.01. WARRANT OF ARREST. A "warrant of arrest" is a written order from a magistrate, directed to a peace officer or some other person specially named, commanding him to take the body of the person accused of an offense, to be dealt with according to law. Art. 15.02. REQUISITES OF WARRANT. It issues in the name of "The State of Texas", and shall be sufficient, without regard to form, if it have these substantial requisites: 1. It must specify the name of the person ... 2. It must state that the person is accused of some offense… 3. It must be signed by the magistrate, and his office be named in the body of the warrant. Art. 15.03. MAGISTRATE MAY ISSUE WARRANT OR SUMMONS. (a) A magistrate may issue a warrant of arrest or a summons: 1. In any case in which he is by law authorized to order verbally the arrest of an offender; (see Art 14) 2. When any person shall make oath before the magistrate that another has committed some offense against the laws of the State; and 3. In any case named in this Code where he is specially authorized to issue warrants of arrest. (c) For purposes of Subdivision 2, Subsection (a), a person may appear before the magistrate in person or the person's image may be presented to the magistrate through an electronic broadcast system. (d) A recording of the communication between the person and the magistrate must be made if the person's image is presented through an electronic broadcast system under Subsection (c). If the defendant is charged with the offense, the recording must be preserved until: (1) the defendant is acquitted of the offense; or (2) all appeals relating to the offense have been exhausted. (e) The counsel for the defendant may obtain a copy of the recording Where is the Authority for issuing a search warrant as a magistrate? ARTICLE 18 TEXAS CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CHAPTER 18. SEARCH WARRANTS • Art. 18.01. SEARCH WARRANT. • (a) A "search warrant" is a written order, issued by a magistrate and directed to a peace officer, commanding him to search for any property or thing and to seize the same and bring it before such magistrate • (b) No search warrant shall issue for any purpose in this state unless sufficient facts are first presented to satisfy the issuing magistrate that probable cause does in fact exist for its issuance. • A sworn affidavit setting forth substantial facts establishing probable cause shall be filed in every instance in which a search warrant is requested. Except as provided by Article 18.011, the affidavit is public information if executed, and the magistrate's clerk shall make a copy of the affidavit available for public inspection in the clerk's office during normal business hours. (c) A search warrant may not be issued under Article 18.02(10) unless the sworn affidavit required by Subsection (b) sets forth sufficient facts to establish probable cause: • (1) that a specific offense has been committed, • (2) that the specifically described property or items that are to be searched for or seized constitute evidence of that offense or evidence that a particular person committed that offense, and • (3) that the property or items constituting evidence to be searched for or seized are located at or on the particular person, place, or thing to be searched. Except as provided by Subsections (d), (i), and (j), only a judge of a municipal court of record… (d) Only the specifically described property or items set forth in a search warrant issued under Subdivision (10) of Article 18.02 of this code or property, items or contraband enumerated in Subdivisions (1) through (9) or in Subdivision (12) of Article 18.02 of this code may be seized. A subsequent search warrant may be issued pursuant to Subdivision (10) of Article 18.02 of this code to search the same person, place, or thing subjected to a prior search under Subdivision (10) of Article 18.02 of this code only if the subsequent search warrant is issued by a judge of a district court, a court of appeals, the court of criminal appeals, or the supreme court All affidavits supporting warrants must be: • Under oath • Sworn to before a person authorized to take oath • Based upon Probable Cause Probable Cause • No Statutory Definition • Defined by the Supreme Court • Texas Court of Criminal Appeals • Texas Appellate Courts A determination requiring more than mere suspicion but far less evidence than that needed to support a conviction (beyond a reasonable doubt) or even that needed to support a finding by preponderance of the evidence. Evidence need not be admissible to be considered in the probable cause determination. An unarticulated hunch, a suspicion, or the good faith of the arresting officer is insufficient to support probable cause Probable cause must be based upon fact and circumstances not conclusions A reviewing court will look at the “totality of the circumstances” to determine if probable cause exists. Missouri V. McNeely (U.S.2013) DWI blood evidence Post arrest blood drawn without warrant Blood drawn not based upon statutory implied consent Blood drawn based on exception to 4th amendment of “exigent circumstances” Is a blood draw a search under the 4th amendment: Yes! Thus a warrant is required Exigency exception: Emergency situation which does not allow time for a warrant to be issued Previous case of blood drawn Schmerber V. California blood drawn after DWI arrest was declared an “exigent circumstance” thus an exception to the 4th Amendment – the natural dissipation of alcohol after alcohol intake stopped Texas Transportation Code Section 724, Implied Consent Sec. 724.012. TAKING OF SPECIMEN. (a) One or more specimens of a person's breath or blood may be taken if the person is arrested (1) while intoxicated was operating a motor vehicle in a public place, (b) A peace officer shall require the taking of a specimen of the person's breath or blood under any of the following circumstances (1) the person was the operator of a motor vehicle or a watercraft involved in an accident
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