Court Opinion

ID: 9573045
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 20:47:03.249117+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:36:15.378584
License: Public Domain

ZIMMERMAN, Justice
(concurring):
I concur in the opinion of Justice Howe. I write only to address the standing question. Justice Howe implicitly accepts the argument that defendants have standing to raise the violation of their state constitutional privacy interests in their bank records, even though the subpoenas which secured that evidence were not addressed to them. I would note explicitly for the benefit of the bench and bar that in so ruling, we are rejecting the arguments advanced by the State that we should follow federal standing law and deny those not directly subjected to the search any right to challenge its legality. See generally Rakas v. Illinois, 439 U.S. 128, 133, 99 S.Ct. 421, 425, 58 L.Ed.2d 387 (1978); Stone v. Powell, 428 U.S. 465, 486-89, 96 S.Ct. 3037, 3048-50, 49 L.Ed.2d 1067 (1976).
I find this entirely appropriate. Even where federal rights are at stake, standing law is state law, and we are not bound to follow federal precedent. Provo City Corp. v. Willden, 768 P.2d 455, 456-57 (Utah 1989). In the area of search and seizure, the federal courts have developed extraordinarily restrictive doctrines that have the effect, if not the purpose, of placing a large percentage of illegal activities beyond the scrutiny of the courts. See *421United States v. Salvucci, 448 U.S. 83, 85, 100 S.Ct. 2547, 2549, 65 L.Ed.2d 619 (1980); United States v. Payner, 447 U.S. 727, 731-32, 100 S.Ct. 2439, 2444, 65 L.Ed.2d 468 (1980); United States v. Obregon, 748 F.2d 1371, 1375 (10th Cir.1984). I see no reason for us to follow suit, especially when state constitutional rights, which we have a peculiar obligation to protect, are at stake.
DURHAM, J., concurs in the concurring opinion of ZIMMERMAN, J.
STEWART, J., dissents; opinion will follow.