Published on: Monday, March 31, 2025
In 2020, Burlington, Wash. officers get a warrant to scour a man's computer after an alleged sexual assault, including a catch-all "dominion and control" clause that effectively authorized an unlimited search of any documents or files. They find child porn from 2016 and charge him in federal court. Ninth Circuit (over a partial dissent): That's an unlawful general warrant if we've ever seen it—no good-faith exception, no plain view, no dice. Evidence suppressed, conviction and sentence vacated.
The case is United States v. Holcomb, 23-469 (9th Cir. Mar. 27, 2025).