445 P.3d 946
Or. Ct. App.2019Background
- State sought to suppress evidence seized in a warranted search of defendant's person, home, and car; trial court initially granted partial suppression, then (after Burnham I) granted suppression of all evidence.
- State appealed the order suppressing all evidence; appellate review is for legal error on whether invalidating one warrant provision requires suppression of evidence seized under other valid provisions.
- This court's later decision in Burnham II held that an overbroad portion of a warrant may be excised and the remainder upheld, requiring suppression only of items seized under the invalid portion; remand was required for factual findings about particular seizures.
- The state argued Burnham II requires reversal and reinstatement of the original partial-suppression order; defendant argued the state failed to preserve the excision argument and, alternatively, that the affidavit was stale or lacked probable cause.
- The court found the state preserved its excision argument, deferred to the magistrate on probable cause for the valid portions, and concluded those portions need not be suppressed; it remanded for factual determinations about which items were seized under the invalid portion and whether any seizures were tainted.
Issues
| Issue | State's Argument | Lagesen (Defendant)'s Argument | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whether invalidating one warrant provision requires suppression of evidence seized under other valid provisions | Invalid portion can be excised; only items seized under invalid portion must be suppressed | All evidence should be suppressed because state didn't preserve excision argument or affidavit was stale/lacked probable cause | Court held excision permitted per Burnham II; valid-portion seizures need not be suppressed absent factual showing they were tainted |
| Whether the state preserved its excision argument | Preserved; record supports preservation | Argued state failed to preserve the argument | Court found preservation adequate |
| Whether magistrate had probable cause (or nonstale probable cause) for other warrant provisions | Magistrate's probable-cause findings should be deferred to; valid portions stand | Argued affidavit was stale or lacked probable cause for remaining items | Court deferred to magistrate and found no basis to displace probable-cause determinations for valid portions |
| Proper disposition/remedy after partial invalidity of warrant | Reinstate trial court's original partial-suppression order and admit items seized under valid portions; remand for fact-finding on specific seizures | Affirm suppression of all evidence | Court reversed the full suppression order and remanded for factual determinations about which items were seized under invalid portion and any taint issues |
Key Cases Cited
- State v. Burnham, 287 Or. App. 661, 403 P.3d 466 (Or. Ct. App. 2017) (earlier Burnham decision relevant to warrant overbreadth)
- State v. Burnham, 289 Or. App. 783, 412 P.3d 1233 (Or. Ct. App. 2018) (Burnham II: overbroad warrant portion may be excised; remand for factual findings)
- State v. Chase, 219 Or. App. 387, 182 P.3d 274 (Or. Ct. App. 2008) (deference to issuing magistrate's probable-cause determination)
