Interesting. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals just released a Search and Seizure outline.

This outline is AMMUNITION for pretrial motion practice.  If you, a potential defendant, were held in custody by police, arrested, questioned, and/or your property (house & car) were searched; then your attorney should argue pretrial motions to suppress.  Pretrial motion practice protects your individual rights while providing the primary defense for your case.  Any attorney worth their salt should argue pretrial motions on your behalf.

The federal public defenders in Oregon drafted the outline.  They appear before the U.S Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit.  This court carries appellate over many federal district courts along the west coast; Washington included.

The outline was updated from two years ago.  Among the many new cases, the big news from the Supreme Court is the decision in Arizona v. Gant overruling prior decisions that had divorced the scope of vehicle searches incident to arrest from the rationale of officer safety. The Ninth Circuit provided important guidance on computer searches in the en banc decision in Comprehensive Drug Testing.

Two district court cases from last summer provide a reminder of the practical importance of motion practice for our clients: Judge Jones and Judge Haggerty granted motions to suppress in Freeman and Izguerra-Robles, litigated by AFPDs Ellen Pitcher and Nancy Bergeson, respectively.

Again, great bedtime reading.  A “must have” for attorneys arguing pretrial motions.

Please contact my office if you, a friend or family member are charged with a crime involving Search & Seizure. Hiring an effective and competent defense attorney is the first and best step toward justice.