Court Opinion

ID: 9668753
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 02:24:46.709073+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:15:47.904820
License: Public Domain

CLINTON, Judge,
dissenting.
These causes present an anomaly, the likes of which rarely confront this Court. Out of a single “administrative” entry and seizure of materials there arose several prosecutions, mostly misdemeanors, but at least one felony; on appeals from those convictions, misdemeanors went to the First Court of Appeals, the felony to the Fourteenth Court of Appeals. The First Court upheld the seizure on one legal theory (plain view); the Fourteenth ruled out its fruits on another (unauthorized seizure). Indeed, each petitioning party claims as a reason for review that the decision should be examined because it is in conflict with that of the other. Today this Court says the First is correct and concomitantly the Fourteenth is wrong — both on the basis of a common legal theory, that the latter court did not address and the State does not invoke in the grounds for review we granted.
The decision of the Fourteenth Court of Appeals is properly based on the reasons explicated in its opinion, which correctly finds and applies the applicable law. Thus, I could affirm the judgment of the Fourteenth Court and reverse the judgment of the First Court.
Because the majority does not, I respectfully dissent.