Court Opinion

ID: 9666993
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 01:32:11.651138+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:15:33.960765
License: Public Domain

W. F. LaVoy, J.
(dissenting). The majority opinion relies extensively upon People v Hentkowski, 154 Mich App 171; 397 NW2d 255 (1986). The Hentkowski analysis correctly held that a warrant must "issue,” but further determined that for a warrant to issue the signature must appear on the appropriate document. In that case, the magistrate signed the affidavit but "[t]he magistrate, however, inadvertently failed to sign the warrant.” Id. at 175. The Hentkowski Court correctly analyzed the issue in terms of the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution, and Const 1963, art 1, § 11. The Court further stated that placement of the magistrate’s signature on a document would distinguish an actual warrant from other proposed documents drafted by law enforcement agencies which never actually become enforceable warrants. There is a second constitutional requirement that the warrant "issue.” Issuance cannot occur until the magistrate signs the warrant. Public policy also supports the conclusion that a signa*336ture is required; the signature requirement serves a cautionary function.
In the case at bar, the magistrate was also the presiding judge at the preliminary examination and signed the warrant "nunc pro tunc,” indicating that, while he could not understand why his signature was not on the warrant, he could specifically recall signing it.
In these days of facsimile machines, carbonized forms and no-carbon-required paper, a turned sheet of no-carbon paper or an improperly set piece of carbon can cause a signature not to appear on all sheets as intended. When a magistrate acknowledges the officer's signature on the affidavit, and by that same signature intends to sign the search warrant, but because of some defect in the carbonization process or other defects the signature does not occur, we have a classic case of exaltation of form over substance. To automatically invalidate the warrant will not deter the police from improper searches or seizures. Validating such a warrant will not impair a defendant’s right to issuance by an impartial magistrate. Where an impartial magistrate examines the affidavit, approves it and intends to issue the warrant and, in fact, signs the warrant, but his signature does not appear on the warrant due to a technical problem, I would hold the warrant valid.
In People v Goff 401 Mich 412; 258 NW2d 57 (1977), the Supreme Court held that an unsigned affidavit on a search warrant will be deemed invalid. However, the absence of a signature did not necessarily invalidate the search warrant. Because the record was ambiguous, the Court directed that further proceedings should be taken to ascertain whether the affidavit was made on oath, in which case the substance was met, although the form was deficient. In the more recent People v Mitch*337ell, 428 Mich 364; 408 NW2d 798 (1987), the Court stated that a search warrant is not necessarily invalid for want of the affiant’s signature. Although presumed to be invalid, that presumption might be rebutted by showing that the facts in the affidavit were presented under oath to the magistrate who authorized the issuance of the warrant. Even though the magistrate had no independent recollection of authorizing that specific search warrant, it was his "habit” (from which he never deviated) to have the affiant attest to the facts supporting the search warrant prior to authorizing it. On that testimony alone, the Mitchell Court chose to affirm the trial court’s finding that the affidavit was made on oath, although unsigned. Based on the Supreme Court reliance on "habit” testimony, certainly the specific statements here of the magistrate-preliminary examination judge that he specifically recalled the event and recalled signing the search warrant should prevail.
In United States v Turner, 558 F2d 46 (CA 2, 1977), the court upheld a technically defective warrant where the search warrant application was made over the telephone. Upon finding probable cause, the magistrate had authorized one of the officers to sign his name on the warrant in order to issue it. The defendant argued that the warrant was not issued by a neutral and detached magistrate. However, the court held that the Fourth Amendment did not prevent the magistrate from delegating a purely ministerial task to the officer. Nor did the fact that a telephone was used invalidate the procedure.
In United States v Juarez, 549 F2d 1113 (CA 7, 1977), a case involving a signature stamp used in lieu of a personal signature, the court stated:
We do not approve the use of a signature stamp *338by a magistrate. Its use creates the appearance that the user lacks the sensitivity a federal judicial officer should have to the important values which the warrant is designed to protect. Nevertheless, in this case the magistrate testified unequivocally that he remembered placing the signature stamp on the warrant, and the District Court credited this testimony. We cannot say that it was clearly erroneous for the court to have done so. [549 F2d 1114-1115.]
In the case at bar, the substantive requirements have been fulfilled to issue a warrant. Although the act of signing the warrant indicates an objective manifestation of the magistrate’s intention, the lack of a signature alone should not be dispositive for invalidating a warrant.
I would remand this case for an evidentiary hearing to determine whether Judge Binkowski intended to issue the search warrant after finding that there was probable cause. Upon a finding of such intent, I would affirm the denial of the motion to quash.