Court Opinion

ID: 9560141
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 17:43:52.842899+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:12:12.738826
License: Public Domain

Justice ERICKSON
specially concurring:
We granted certiorari to determine whether the warrantless aerial surveillance of defendant Bartley’s driveway violated article II, section 7 of the Colorado Constitution. Bartley has conceded that none of the rights guaranteed by the fourth amendment to the United States Constitution have been violated. I can perceive no principled reason in construing article II, section 7 of the Colorado Constitution differently than the United States Supreme Court decisions interpreting the fourth amendment to the United States Constitution. See Florida v. Riley, 488 U.S. 445, 109 S.Ct. 693, 102 L.Ed.2d 835 (1989); California v. Ciraolo, 476 U.S. 207, 106 S.Ct. 1809, 90 L.Ed.2d 210 (1986). Both federal decisions would uphold aerial surveillance under the facts of this case. I would therefore hold that there was no error. Consequently, there is no reason to invoke the harmless error doctrine to resolve the issue before us.
VOLLACK, J., joins in this special concurrence.