Source: https://www.tncourts.gov/rules/rules-criminal-procedure/3
Timestamp: 2019-04-24 02:19:57+00:00

Document:
- Choose - Rule 1701: Pretrial Conference Rule 1: Scope and Definitions. Rule 2: Purpose and Construction. Rule 3.1: [RESERVED] Rule 3.2: [RESERVED] Rule 3.3: [RESERVED] Rule 3: The Affidavit of Complaint. Rule 3.4: [RESERVED] Rule 3.5: Criminal Citation. Rule 4: Arrest Warrant or Summons on a Complaint. Rule 5: Initial Appearance Before Magistrate. Rule 5.1: Preliminary Hearing. Rule 6: The Grand Jury. Rule 7: Indictments, Presentments and Information. Rule 8: Joinder of Offenses and Defendants. Rule 9: Capias or Summons upon Indictment or Presentment. Rule 10: Arraignment. Rule 11: Pleas. Rule 12.1: Notice of Alibi. Rule 12: Pleadings and Motions Before Trial; Defenses and Objections. Rule 12.2: Notice of Insanity Defense or Expert Testimony of Defendant&#039;s... Rule 12.3: Notice of Intent to Seek Increased Sentence. Rule 13: Consolidation or Severance. Rule 14: Severance of Offenses and Defendants. Rule 15: Depositions. Rule 16: Discovery and Inspection. Rule 17.1: Pretrial Conference. Rule 17: Subpoenas. Rule 18: Venue. Rule 19: [RESERVED] Rule 20: [RESERVED] Rule 21: Change of Venue. Rule 22: [RESERVED] Rule 23: Trial By Jury. Rule 24: Trial Jurors. Rule 24.1: Juror Information. Rule 25: Disability of Judge. Rule 26.1: [RESERVED] Rule 26.2: Production of Statements of Witnesses. Rule 26.3: Order of Expert Testimony. Rule 26: [RESERVED] Rule 27: [RESERVED] Rule 28: Interpreters. Rule 29.1: Closing Argument. Rule 29: Motion for Judgment of Acquittal. Rule 29.2: Interim Commentary. Rule 30: Instructions. Rule 30.1: Exhibits in Jury Room. Rule 31: Verdict. Rule 32: Sentence and Judgment. Rule 33: New Trial. Rule 34: Arrest of Judgment. Rule 35: Reduction of Sentence. Rule 36: Clerical Mistakes. Rule 36.1: Correction of Illegal Sentence. Rule 37: Appeal. Rule 38: Appeal of Denial of Pretrial Diversion. Rule 39: [RESERVED] Rule 40: [RESERVED] Rule 41: Search and Seizure. Rule 42: Criminal Contempt. Rule 43: Presence of the Defendant. Rule 44: Right to and Assignment of Counsel. Rule 45: Computing and Extending Time. Rule 46: [RESERVED] Rule 47: Motions. Rule 48: Dismissal. Rule 49.1: Facsimile Filing of Papers. Rule 49.2: Electronic filings, signing, or verification. Rule 49: Service and Filing of Pleadings and Other Papers. Rule 50: Scheduling Cases. Rule 51: Exceptions Unnecessary. Rule 52: [RESERVED] Rule 53: [RESERVED] Rule 54: [RESERVED] Rule 55: Records. Rule 56: [RESERVED] Rule 57: [RESERVED] Rule 58: [RESERVED] Rule 59: Effective Date. Rule 60: Title.
Rule 3: The Affidavit of Complaint.
(c) allege the essential facts constituting the offense charged.
This rule governs what must be done to secure the issuance of an arrest warrant. Under our statutory scheme, per T.C.A. § 40-6-214, clerks of courts of general sessions and their sworn deputies have jurisdiction and authority (concurrent with that of their judges) to issue arrest warrants. It is important that any clerk issuing an arrest warrant know and fully appreciate the legal significance of the fact that it is a judicial function which is being performed. The validity of the warrant depends upon the making of a probable cause determination; a warrant must never be issued as a mere ministerial act done simply upon application. Moreover, a valid warrant can be issued only by one who is neutral and detached and capable of making a probable cause determination, Shadwick v. City of Tampa, 407 U.S. 345 (1972), based upon an adequate showing of probable cause, Aguilar v. Texas, 378 U.S. 108 (1964) [overruled by Illinois v. Gates, 462 U.S. 213 (1983)]. One who is paid a fee for the issuance of a warrant, but nothing where such issuance is refused, is not a neutral and detached magistrate who can validly issue warrants, Connally v. Georgia, 429 U.S. 245 (1977).
It must be emphasized that before a valid arrest warrant can issue, the judicial officer issuing the warrant must be supplied with sufficient information to support an independent judgment that probable cause exists for the warrant. Whiteley v. Warden, 401 U.S. 560 (1971). A factually sufficient basis for the probable cause judgment must appear within the affidavit of complaint. If hearsay evidence is relied upon, the basis for the credibility of both the informant and the informant's information must also appear in the affidavit. Spinelli v. U.S., 393 U.S. 410 (1969) [overruled by Illinois v. Gates, 462 U.S. 213 (1983)]. The comparable federal rule calls this affidavit the "complaint." Since that technical term is used differently in our civil procedure, and also to further emphasize to the one issuing an arrest warrant the necessity for first having in hand a detailed complaint reduced to writing and sworn to, the commission adopted "affidavit of complaint" to describe the document upon which the issuance of the arrest warrant is based.

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