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State v. Brown

Citations: 584 So. 2d 656; 1991 Fla. App. LEXIS 8931; 1991 WL 174651Docket: No. 90-1311

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida; September 11, 1991; Florida; State Appellate Court

Narrative Opinion Summary

The court remands the case for further evidentiary proceedings based on the precedent set in Florida v. Bostick. The trial court's order to grant the appellee's motion to suppress lacked factual findings regarding the search circumstances and relied solely on the Florida Supreme Court's ruling that the Broward Sheriff’s Office's practice of boarding buses and randomly asking for consent to search was unconstitutional. However, the U.S. Supreme Court has rejected this absolute rule. The remand directs the trial court to assess whether a seizure occurred, taking into account all circumstances surrounding the encounter, as outlined in Bostick. Judges Dell and Garrett concur with the decision, while Chief Judge Glickstein concurs with a special opinion.

Legal Issues Addressed

Invalidation of Absolute Prohibition on Searches

Application: The trial court's reliance on the Florida Supreme Court's ruling was incorrect as the U.S. Supreme Court rejected the absolute rule prohibiting bus searches.

Reasoning: The trial court's order to grant the appellee's motion to suppress lacked factual findings regarding the search circumstances and relied solely on the Florida Supreme Court's ruling that the Broward Sheriff’s Office's practice of boarding buses and randomly asking for consent to search was unconstitutional. However, the U.S. Supreme Court has rejected this absolute rule.

Remand for Further Evidentiary Proceedings

Application: The court remands the case to the trial court for additional fact-finding related to the circumstances of the search.

Reasoning: The court remands the case for further evidentiary proceedings based on the precedent set in Florida v. Bostick.

Search and Seizure under Fourth Amendment

Application: The trial court must determine whether a seizure occurred by considering the totality of the circumstances surrounding the encounter.

Reasoning: The remand directs the trial court to assess whether a seizure occurred, taking into account all circumstances surrounding the encounter, as outlined in Bostick.