Court Opinion

ID: 9568908
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 20:08:31.681208+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:14:29.383691
License: Public Domain

BRETT, Presiding Judge
(specially concurring) .
While I must reluctantly concur with Judge BUSSEY in his opinion in this case, I believe we should place equal emphasis upon the statement of the majority opinion, of the Honorable United States Supreme Court, wherein it recites:
“In holding as we have done, we do not retreat from the established propositions that only the probability, and not a prima facie showing, of criminal activity is the standard of probable cause, Beck v. Ohio, 379 U.S. 89, 96, 85 S.Ct. 223, 228, 13 L.Ed.2d 142 (1964); that affidavits of probable cause are tested by much less rigorous standards than those governing the admissibility of evidence at trial, McCray v. Illinois, 386 U.S. 300, 301, 87 S.Ct. 1056, 1062, 18 L.Ed.2d 62 (1967); that in judging probable cause issuing magistrates are not to be confined by niggardly limitations or by restrictions on the use of their common sense, United States v. Ventresca, 380 U.S. 102, 108, 85 S.Ct. 741, 745, 13 L.Ed.2d 684 (1964); and that-their determination of probable cause should be paid great deference by reviewing courts, Jones v. United States, 362 U.S. 257-271, 80 S.Ct. 725, 735-736, 4 L.Ed.2d 697 (1960).”
It appears to me that this declaration is an attempt to reconcile the Spinelli results with the previous decisions of the Honorable Court. I believe also that by applying equal emphasis to that declaration we will be treating it as it appears to be intended, i. e., limited to the Spinelli facts, otherwise there is no need for the declaration being in the opinion. Likewise, it is too restrictive in its application to the entire spectrum of affidavits for the issuance of search warrants, and paints “with too broad a brush” as the Honorable Court reiterated of the Court of Appeals concerning its “totality of circumstances” approach.
In the instant case, if the affidavit had been more specific concerning the “reliable informant” and his source of information, I would favor affirming this case, even under the Spinelli decision. But in view of the decision of Spinelli, supra, and the limited status of the affidavit in this case, I am bound to concur with Judge BUSSEY in his opinion.
However, insofar as it is the intention of every opinion rendered by all appellate courts, that the effect of the opinion shall operate prospectively, and not retroactively, I believe the effect of Spinelli v. United States, supra, should be treated prospectively by this Court, notwithstanding the loud silence of the Honorable Supreme Court opinion in this respect.
I also feel compelled — under the circumstances — to repeat what Mr. Justice Black *261said in his dissenting opinion, because it succinctly states the same effect of so many situations encountered by State Courts today; and it is equally applicable to those situations, as the one the Honorable Justice intended. He said:
“A majority of this Court today holds, however, that the magistrate and all of these judges were wrong. In doing so, they substitute their own opinion for that of the local magistrate ,and the circuit judges, and reject the en banc factual conclusion of the Eighth Circuit and reverse the judgment based upon that factual conclusion.”