Legal Document

468 U.S. 981 104 S.Ct. 3424 82 L.Ed.2d 737 MASSACHUSETTS, Petitionerv.Osborne SHEPPARD. No. 82-963. Supreme Court of the United States Argued Jan. 17, 1984. Decided July 5, Syllabus On basis evidence gathered in investigation a homicide Roxbury section Boston, police detective drafted an affidavit to support application for arrest warrant and search authorizing respondent's residence. The stated that wished certain described items, including clothing victim blunt instrument might have been used on victim. was reviewed approved by District Attorney. Because it Sunday, local court closed, had difficult time finding form. finally found form previously another district controlled substances. After making some changes form, presented judge at his residence, informing him need be further changed. Concluding established probable cause residence telling necessary would made, made changes, but did not change substantive portion, which continued authorize substances, nor he alter so as incorporate affidavit. then signed returned detective, sufficient authority content carry out requested search. ensuing other officers limited items listed affidavit, several incriminating pieces were discovered. Thereafter, respondent charged with first-degree murder. At pretrial suppression hearing, trial ruled notwithstanding defective under Fourth Amendment particularly describe seized, could admitted because acted good faith executing what they reasonably thought valid warrant. subsequent trial, convicted. Massachusetts Judicial held should suppressed. Held: Federal law does require exclusion disputed evidence. Pp. 987-991. (a) exclusionary rule applied when officer conducting objectively reasonable reliance issued detached neutral magistrate subsequently is determined invalid. v. Leon, 897, 3405, 677. 987-988. (b) Here, there officers' mistaken belief authorized conducted. took every step expected them. point where concluded, did, materials outlined 988-989. (c) A required disbelieve who has just advised possesses authorizes conduct requested. 989-990. (d) An error constitutional dimensions may committed respect issuance this case, judge, officer, critical mistake. Suppressing failed make all clerical corrections despite assurance such will serve deterrent function designed achieve. 990-991. 387 Mass. 488, 441 N.E.2d 725, reversed remanded. Barbara A.H. Smith, Asst. Atty. Gen., Mass., petitioner. John Reinstein, respondent. Justice WHITE delivered opinion Court. 1 This case involves rules articulated today 677, situation seize pursuant invalidated technical part issuing judge. 2 * badly burned body Sandra Boulware discovered vacant lot Boston approximately 5 a.m., Saturday, May 1979. autopsy revealed died multiple compound skull fractures caused blows head. brief investigation, decided question one victim's boyfriends, Osborne Sheppard. Sheppard told last seen Tuesday night gaming house (where card games played) from 9 p.m. Friday until a.m. Saturday. He identified people willing substantiate latter claim. 3 By interviewing said night, learned although borrowed automobile about o'clock Saturday morning order give two men ride home. Even though trip normally only 15 minutes, return car nearly 4 Sunday morning, visited owner borrowed. consented inspection vehicle. Bloodstains hair rear bumper within trunk compartment. In addition, noticed strands wire similar near shortly before it, placed articles any stains or trunk. thus far Detective Peter O'Malley Sheppard's set forth results 6 "[a] fifth bottle amaretto liquor, nickel bags marijuana, woman's jacket black-grey (charcoal), possessions D. Boulware, type rope match those above [T]hunderbird. Blunt Men's women's blood, gasoline, burns Items fingerprints victim."1 7 showed Attorney, Attorney's first assistant, sergeant, concluded arrest. 492, 727 (1982). 8 use Dorchester District. entitled "Search Warrant Controlled Substance G.L. c. 276 §§ through 3A." Realizing deleted subtitle "controlled substance" typewriter. also substituted "Roxbury" printed "Dorchester" typed name address into blank spaces provided information. However, reference portion constituted that, signed, constitute itself. consider application. examined offered knew dealt crossed subtitles. unsuccessfully searching more suitable informed provide proper dated warrant, substances;2 O'Malley, requested.3 documents and, accompanied officers, proceeded scope discovered.4 10 conform commands seized. ruled, however, defect App. 35a. 11 appeal, argued obtained agreed. plurality justices "the conducted belief, held, lawful judge," 503, N.E.2d, 733, excluded recognized good-faith exception rule. Two combined separate concurrence stress their rejection exception, justice dissented, contending since deter misconduct, admitted. We granted certiorari argument conjunction 463 1205, 103 3534, 77 1386 (1983). II 12 Having already invalid, 922-923, S.Ct., 3421, sole issue us whether believed warrant.5 There no dispute Thus, belief. Both court, 35a, majority Court, 733; id., 524-525, 745 (Lynch, J., dissenting), was. agree. 13 prepared 26a, produced made. observed received point, 14 contends defective, sure based premise duty disregard judge's assurances Whatever do executes without knowing beforehand are seized,6 we refuse him, word action, Massachusetts, most jurisdictions, determinations acting jurisdiction, even if erroneous, binding aside procedure. Streeter City Worcester, 336 469, 472, 146 514, 517 (1957); Moll Township Wakefield, 274 505, 507, 175 N.E. 81, (1931). If accept face value conclusion little reason why everything right, especially alerted potential problems. sum, clearly largely error-free. "[T]he adopted unlawful searches police, punish errors magistrates judges." Illinois Gates, 462 213, 263, 2317, 2346, 76 527 (1983) (WHITE, concurring judgment).7 Accordingly, federal case. judgment therefore reversed, remanded proceedings inconsistent opinion. 16 It ordered. liquor marihuana included request victim, purchased going directed "search substance, article, implement paraphernalia in, for, connection possession securely keep same final action. . ." record spoke after changes. Brief Respondent 11, n. 4. expressly "informed over requested," 27a, noted apparent disapproval. 497, 730 Since infer assuring corrected, express adequate add reasonableness O'Malley's Therefore, nothing served combing determine court's signing pair bloodstained boots, bloodstains concrete floor, earring envelope, men's jockey shorts leotards blood them, three types wire, hairpiece, victim's. 32a, 500-501, 731-732; 510, (Liacos, joined Abrams, concurring), constitutionally description completely inaccurate contained Petitioner conclusion. argue, meaning Amendment. 28-32. uniformly fails particularity requirement unconstitutional. Stanford Texas, 379 476, 85 506, 431 (1965); Cardwell, 680 F.2d 75, 77-78 (CA9 1982); Crozier, 674 1293, 1299 Klein, 565 183, 185 (CA1 1977); Gardner, 537 861, 862 (CA6 1976); Marti, 421 1263, 1268-1269 (CA2 1970). That keeping well-established principle "except carefully defined classes cases, private property consent 'unreasonable' unless warrant." Camara Municipal 523, 528-529, 87 1727, 1730-1731, 18 930 (1967). See Steagald States, 451 204, 211-212, 101 1642, 1647, 68 38 (1981); Jones 357 493, 499, 78 1253, 1257, 1514 (1958). Whether present fits fact-bound importance situations unlikely arise regularity. Normally, involved stage receives read object search, believe seizure items. less familiar unalleviated concerns justified failing notice like decide. hold unreasonable rely instance "it plainly evident business U.S., 264, 2346 judgment). concluding Indeed, admits written "see attached affidavit" valid. Tr. Oral Arg. 27, 50. Johnson, 690 60, 64-65 (CA3 1982), cert. denied, 459 1214, 1212, 75 450 (1983); re Property Belonging Talk Town Bookstore, Inc., 644 1317, 1318-1319 1981); 541 1311, 1315-1316 (CA8 Womack, 509 368, 382 (CADC 1974); Commonwealth Todisco, 363 445, 450, 294 860, 864 (1973).

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