Court Opinion

ID: 9618697
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 05:15:51.550297+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:04:31.397092
License: Public Domain

Smith, Judge,
concurring specially.
While I concur with the majority’s analysis, I write specially to point out the potential dangers of the approach advocated in Judge Ruffin’s dissent. If specificity is required to the point of divulging such matters as when and why the informant was in the suspect’s residence, as well as details of the informant’s good standing in the community, business connections, and property ownership, there is a substantial risk that an accused or other interested persons may identify and endanger the “confidential” concerned citizen, particularly in a small community.
There is far from “complete lack of specificity” in this affidavit, and it is by no means a general warrant. Rather, it amply satisfies the requirement of a substantial basis for a “practical common-sense decision” by the magistrate under Illinois v. Gates, 462 U. S. 213 (103 SC 2317, 76 LE2d 527) (1983) and State v. Stephens, 252 Ga. 181, 182 (311 SE2d 823) (1984).