Court Opinion

ID: 5764581
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-01-12 17:20:23.452766+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:41:37.145460
License: Public Domain

Herlihy, J. P.
(dissenting). The issue discussed by the majority is whether or not the search warrants were illegal and void because of failure to comply with section 794 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
While the record would support a finding that Investigator Creagan was the applicant for the search warrants and that he personally appeared before the issuing Justice, such a consideration need not be reached.
The requirement under both the Federal and New York State Constitutions is that a search warrant may not issue unless there is a showing of probable cause by oath or affirmation that evidence of crime may thus be obtained. (See People v. Marshall, 13 N Y 2d 28, 34; N. Y. Const., art. I, § 12.) The reason for such a restriction is that the people have the right to be secure against unreasonable searches and seizures.
The statutory provisions for search warrants are set forth in title II of part VI (§§ 791-813) of the Code of Criminal Procedure and it is entitled “ Of Special Proceedings of a Criminal Nature ”. Section 791 defines a search warrant as an order signed by a Judge, Justice or Magistrate; section 792 defines what property may be seized; section 793 provides that it can be issued only “ upon probable cause, supported by affidavit”; section 794 as discussed in the majority opinion regulates the procedure before the Judge, Justice or Magistrate; section 795 reiterates the requirement of probable cause within the affidavits or depositions; and section 796 provides that the judicial officer must issue the warrant if satisfied as to probable cause.
The majority hold that the failure of the applicant to appear personally before the issuing Magistrate renders the warrant illegal and void.
The. requirements of section 794 are intended to be procedural (the District Attorney states they are “ ministerial ”) and a failure to strictly comply therewith should not render the search warrant order illegal or void in the absence of a showing that such noncompliance infringes on the right to be *195free of unreasonable searches. It is conceivable that a failure to comply with section 794 might result in a finding that the issuing Magistrate could not have probable cause sufficiently shown and in such circumstance the search warrant order might be void.
A reading of the statutes relating to search warrants makes it clear that the issuance of a warrant is a special proceeding and if the court has acquired jurisdiction (see People v. Politano, 17 A D 2d 503, 509), then its order in the form of a search warrant can only be attacked on the ground that there was a failure of proof as to the vital issue of probable cause before that court. The question was expressly left open by this court in People v. Politano (supra). In this regard it is to be noted that the power of a Magistrate to issue search warrants apparently existed in the common law prior to the adoption of either our New York State Constitution or the Federal Constitution (see People ex rel. Simpson Co. v. Kempner, 208 N. Y. 16, 20, 21, 23), and it would appear that the Justices of the Supreme Court of this State still have such power independent of the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
Since these matters may be and generally are ex parte insofar as the State of New York, through its representatives, is concerned, and since it appears that jurisdiction of the subject matter is dependent only upon a showing of probable cause by oath or affirmation, it is apparent that a failure to comply with section 794 is a technical defect only and absent a showing by the movant of prejudice resulting from such defect, the search warrant will not be voided. There is no issue but that the affidavits submitted to the court conclusively show ‘‘ probable cause ’ ’ and the respondents do not argue or deny such fact. To rely, as do the majority, upon semantics in an interpretation of the procedural aspects of the statute applicable to such warrants is, in the present instance, too harsh a rule. The affidavits established probable cause and under the circumstances it is understandable why the court did not exercise its prerogative to have present the affiants.
In support of the construction that a failure to comply with section 794 does not render a search warrant void, the proposed New York Criminal Procedure Law omits the requirement of section 794.
The respondents argue that retroactive effect should be given to Berger v. New York (388 U. S. 41), but it should be noted that in December, 1967 the Court of Appeals decided People v. Kaiser (21 N Y 2d 86).
*196The other arguments made by the respondents do not show any prejudice, deprivation or violation of any of their rights.
The order should be reversed.
Reynolds, Aulisi and G-abbielli, JJ., concur with Staley, Jr. J.; Herlihy, J. P., dissents and votes to reverse in an opinion.
Order affirmed.