Court Opinion

ID: 9462936
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-04 22:53:47.90192+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:37:51.311168
License: Public Domain

CHAMBERS, Circuit Judge
(concurring):
I concur in the judgment of the majority. I would find that the search in this case was private because the police were not significantly involved either prior to or during the search. United States v. Harless, 464 F.2d 953 (9th Cir. 1972); Eisentrager v. Hocker, 450 F.2d 490 (9th Cir. 1971). Absent police involvement prior to or during a search conducted by a private person, subsequent police acceptance of evidence found does not eliminate the private character of the search.
Similarly, I find no action by the government that would constitute a seizure. Under the facts in this case, the police action in accepting the privately discovered evidence from the person who found it does not appear to be a seizure within the meaning of the fourth amendment. Cf. United States v. Wilson, 492 F.2d 1160 (5th Cir. 1974). Therefore, because there was no police action amounting to either a search or a-seizure, the fourth amendment does not require the exclusion of the books.
KOELSCH and BROWNING, Circuit Judges, join CHAMBERS, Circuit Judge’s opinion and part II of KENNEDY, Circuit Judge’s opinion.