Court Opinion

ID: 9769282
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 14:43:11.284426+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:36:40.856897
License: Public Domain

MALONEY, Judge,
concurring.
On original submission the Court rejected the State’s argument that the warrantless search was justified by exigent circumstances. On rehearing the Court upheld the search based upon exigent circumstances. I concur in the judgment of the Court on rehearing, but write separately to point out that the opinion on original submission failed to apply the appropriate legal standard. Both opinions recognize that the facts should be viewed under an objective standard when determining whether exigent circumstances justify a warrantless search. Op. on original submission at 482 (“Courts must use an objective standard of reasonableness in assessing the officers’ belief that such an emergency actually existed”); Op. on reh’g at 502 (objective standard of reasonableness is used in evaluating the police’s conduct). However, the opinion on original submission applied a subjective standard by looking to the actual views of the officers in the case. Brimage, 918 S.W.2d at 482-483 (opinion on original submission) (holding that record supports no exigency because police characterized search as evidentiary, decision to search was arrived at casually, police were not expecting to find alive or injured victim). When viewed under the appropriate objective standard I agree that the warrantless search was lawful as based upon exigent circumstances. I therefore concur in the judgment of the Court.