For the Defense - Vol. 6, Issue 2 - 15

What About Car Searches that
Predate Alexander?1
O
v. Alexander.2
n December 22, 2020, the Pennsylvania Supreme
Court gave criminal defense attorneys an
early Christmas present with Commonwealth
Overruling Commonwealth v. Gary,3
the Court held that the Pennsylvania Constitution
requires a warrant to search a vehicle, unless exigent
circumstances exist.
Alexander does not only apply to warrantless car
searches taking place after December 22, 2020. The
issue may be raised in a variety of procedural contexts
in pending cases where your client's arrest predates
Alexander.
Pre-Trial
The Alexander decision was a fundamental change
in controlling Pennsylvania law. Under Commonwealth
v. Cabeza,4
when an appellate decision overrules prior
law and announces a new principle, the new rule is to
Cheryl Brooks
be applied in all cases, up to and including the appeal
-where the issue was preserved.
If your case is still pre-trial you should be able to argue
the Alexander issue, even if you did not previously file
a motion to suppress, or if a previously litigated motion
did not challenge the the absence of a search warrant.
There is no waiver because such a claim would have
been futile under Gary. The interests of justice require
reconsideration under newly decided controlling law.5
Rule of Criminal Procedure 581(B) requires
suppression issues to be raised in an omnibus motion,
but the rule permits a late or supplemental filing in
" the interests of justice. " If you have already litigated
a motion to suppress and the case is still pre-trial,
there is no time limit for filing a Motion to Reconsider
Denial of Suppression, because denial of suppression is
an interlocutory order.6
A judge can and should grant
reconsideration, even if another judge has denied
Vol. 6, Issue 2 l For The Defense 15

For the Defense - Vol. 6, Issue 2

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of For the Defense - Vol. 6, Issue 2

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