Opinion ID: 1210480
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The district court properly denied the Garrettsons an evidentiary hearing.

Text: The Garrettsons contend that the district court erred in denying them an evidentiary hearing to determine whether or not McGuckin was a certified thermal imaging technician. We disagree. Ninth Judicial District Court Rule (NJDCR) 6(e) states that decisions on all motions will be rendered without oral argument unless oral argument is requested by the court or the parties. Moreover, District Court Rule 13(1) requires that all motions include a notice of the motion setting the matter on the court law and motion calendar. The Garrettsons neither requested oral argument, pursuant to NJDCR 6(e), nor set the matter on the court calendar. Accordingly, the district court did not err in denying the Garrettsons an evidentiary hearing because of their failure to comply with applicable procedural rules. Additionally, a defendant is not entitled to an evidentiary hearing to examine the validity of a search warrant unless he or she can make a preliminary showing and an offer of proof that there were intentional or reckless material falsehoods in the affidavit. Franks v. Delaware, 438 U.S. 154, 155, 98 S.Ct. 2674, 57 L.Ed.2d 667 (1978). In the instant case, the Garrettsons failed to make a preliminary showing substantiating their claim that in issuing the warrant, Judge EnEarl was misled by the alleged material falsehood in the affidavit concerning McGuckin's expert qualifications in thermal imaging. Although the Garrettsons' counsel indicated that he intended to offer expert testimony to prove that McGuckin was not a qualified thermal imaging expert, no further showing was ever provided to the court. Moreover, the Garrettsons never provided the court with a satisfactory explanation of their failure to furnish an affidavit or other offer of proof. Accordingly, the district court properly denied the Garrettsons an evidentiary hearing because they failed to make a preliminary showing of reckless or intentional falsehoods, as mandated by Franks. [2]