Court Opinion

ID: 9761658
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 01:49:04.254458+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:29:25.236782
License: Public Domain

DOUGLAS, Judge
(dissenting).
The majority reverses this conviction on the ground that the tin shed behind the residence was not described in the search warrant or affidavit for the warrant.
Considering the affidavit for the warrant as a whole, the tin shed is sufficiently described. The officer, affiant, was informed “that he [appellant] kept 10 Lids of Marijuana in a cardboard shoe box in his bedroom closet, also he kept in a tin shed behind the residence several more lids of Marijuana.”
The affidavit was referred to and was made a part of the search warrant. Phenix v. State, 488 S.W.2d 759 (Tex.Cr.App.1972), restated the rule and this Court held that where the affidavit is incorporated by reference, it becomes a part of, and can be used to aid the description in, the search warrant.
The officer asked the magistrate to issue the search warrant as follows:
“Wherefore, I ask that a warrant to search for and seize the said narcotic drug and dangerous drug at the above described premises. . .
The tin shed was a part of the premises as shown by the affidavit. Marihuana was specified as being located in the tin shed. Construing the affidavit and warrant as a whole, the premises to be searched included the shed.
The rule that excludes evidence because of an unlawful search is being unduly and unreasonably extended in this case because of the refusal of the majority to consider the entire affidavit and the search warrant.
The majority changes the rule and now holds that a defendant does not have to object immediately before or at the time of trial.
The decision by the majority will permit trial judges to be ambushed. The majority has changed the rule after this case was tried.
Many cases have held that, where a motion in limine has been acted upon prior to trial, a defendant must object at the time of or immediately before the trial. See Simpson v. State, 507 S.W.2d 530 (Tex.Cr.App.1974), and Whatley v. State, 488 S.W.2d 422 (Tex.Cr.App.1972).
Where a motion to suppress has been heard at trial, it has been held that another objection did not have to be made and that this was sufficient objection under Article 40.09, Section 6(d)(3), V.A.C.C.P. Powers and Dion v. State, 456 S.W.2d 97 (Tex.Cr.App.1970). In Graves v. State, 513 S.W.2d 57 (Tex.Cr.App.1974), a hearing on a motion to suppress evidence was had on the day of the trial. This Court wrote:
“. . . Since the trial court had immediately before overruled the motion to suppress, it was not necessary for appellant to object when the contraband was offered. . . .” (Emphasis Supplied)
A motion to suppress evidence filed before the trial is a motion in limine. In *305limine merely means prior to trial. This motion titled a motion to suppress is still a motion in limine. The experienced trial judge was no doubt aware of our previous decisions holding that an objection had to be made at the time of the trial.
The motion in the present case was overruled by the court ten weeks prior to the trial. It was not called to the court’s attention during the trial. The trial judge has a multi-county district; he and other judges with heavy case loads should not be expected to remember every motion filed or remember if they were titled motions in li-mine or motions to suppress. Judges in metropolitan districts may have problems because in many cases one judge will hear motions prior to trial and another judge will conduct the trial. This decision will add further problems and greater opportunities for sandbagging trial judges. What if a defendant labels a motion “In Limine” which is overruled but asks that evidence be suppressed, will this be sufficient to obviate the necessity for an objection at the trial?
The reasons by the majority that a different rule should be applied in motions to suppress because they are statutory has no support by the cases. It is not necessary for a trial judge to hear such a motion even though it is statutory. In Bosley v. State, 414 S.W.2d 468 (Tex.Cr.App.1967), this Court held in a unanimous opinion that the trial judge did not have to hear a motion to suppress evidence prior to trial. Trial judges in fear of being ambushed or sandbagged may feel inclined to deny hearings on motions to suppress and require a defendant to object during the trial.
Counsel should have given the trial court notice immediately preceding or at the time of the trial. A motion over two months old does not provide sufficient notice.
The majority has cited no case to support its holding.
The judgment should be affirmed.