Court Opinion

ID: 9707099
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 02:02:29.944126+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:22:28.174325
License: Public Domain

MEYER, Justice
(concurring).
Even if the search and seizure does not violate the Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution, I would conclude that there is a violation of our state constitution. See Kahn v. Griffin, 701 N.W.2d 815, 827-28 & n. 6 (Minn.2005) (stating that we have and can independently interpret and apply the state constitution on issues of search and seizure). We have recognized that there is a greater intrusion upon an individual’s privacy when a nighttime search is executed. In *159State v. Lien, we said that “a nighttime search of a home involves a much greater intrusion upon privacy and is presumably more alarming than an ordinary daytime search of a home.” 265 N.W.2d 833, 839-40 (Minn.1978). In State v. Bourke, we determined that the affidavit for a search warrant during the night must show both probable cause for the search and at least reasonable suspicion that a nighttime search is necessary to preserve evidence or to protect officer safety. 718 N.W.2d 922, 926-27 (Minn.2006).
Further, we have frequently recognized that privacy rights are more broadly defined under the Minnesota Constitution than under the United States Constitution. See, e.g., State v. Carter, 697 N.W.2d 199, 210-11 (Minn.2005) (holding that a person’s expectation of privacy in a self-storage unit is greater for the purpose of the Minnesota Constitution than under the Fourth Amendment because “the dominant purpose for such a unit is to store personal effects in a fixed location”); State v. Askerooth, 681 N.W.2d 353, 363 (Minn.2004) (holding that the Minnesota Constitution provides greater protection against searches and seizures during automobile stops); State v. Fort, 660 N.W.2d 415, 418-19 (Minn.2003) (holding that the Minnesota Constitution prohibits the expansion of a traffic stop beyond the original justification without reasonable suspicion of further criminal activity); Ascher v. Comm’r of Pub. Safety, 519 N.W.2d 183, 187 (Minn.1994) (holding that the Minnesota Constitution provides greater protection against warrantless searches and seizures in sobriety check points); In re Welfare of E.D.J., 502 N.W.2d 779, 780 (Minn.1993) (holding that the Minnesota Constitution provides greater protection against warrantless seizures of the person).
I would interpret the word “unreasonable” in the Minnesota Constitution to in-elude, in addition to a warrantless search without probable cause, searches conducted during the nighttime without reasonable suspicion to support the need for a nighttime search. Minn. Const, art. I, § 10. And I would interpret the word “house” in the Minnesota Constitution to expand a homeowner’s reasonable expectation of privacy to include, in addition to privacy in his person, privacy to safeguard his home from unauthorized intrusion on his family and social guests. Id.