Summary
In People v Brooks, 75 Mich. App. 448; 254 N.W.2d 926 (1977), this Court rejected the defendant's claim that a search warrant issued by a municipal judge (i.e., magistrate) was invalid because it was issued without the filing of an authorization order signed by the prosecutor.
Summary of this case from People v. WhiteOpinion
Docket Nos. 28387, 28388.
Decided May 3, 1977.
Appeal from Wayne, Blair Moody, Jr., J. Submitted April 11, 1977, at Detroit. (Docket Nos. 28387, 28388.) Decided May 3, 1977.
Robert L. Brooks and Ken Ware were convicted of possession of heroin with intent to deliver. Defendants appeal. Affirmed.
Frank J. Kelley, Attorney General, Robert A. Derengoski, Solicitor General, William L. Cahalan, Prosecuting Attorney, Edward R. Wilson, Research, Training and Appeals, and David B. Higbee, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for plaintiff.
Milton R. Henry, for defendants.
Before: R.B. BURNS, P.J., and T.M. BURNS and D.C. RILEY, JJ.
Defendants appeal their bench conviction of possession of heroin with intent to deliver. MCLA 335.341(1)(a); MSA 18. 1070(41)(1)(a).
Defendants were discovered and arrested on premises searched by the police upon execution of a search warrant issued by a Highland Park municipal judge. Defendants contend on appeal that this search warrant was invalidly issued as no authorization order signed by the prosecuting attorney was filed with the judge as allegedly required by MCLA 764.1; MSA 28.860. Accordingly, they believe that the evidence seized should be suppressed.
Defendants' contention about the (in)validity of the warrant is incorrect. MCLA 764.1; MSA 28.860 is contained in the section of the Code of Criminal Procedure entitled "Arrest" and is concerned by its express terms with "the apprehension of persons charged with offenses". By contrast, the section of the code specifically authorizing search warrants, MCLA 780.651; MSA 28.1259(1), contains no such "order in writing" requirement.
The municipal judge who issued the warrant in this case is a "magistrate" under MCLA 761.1; MSA 28.843. The most recent formulation of MCLA 600.8511; MSA 27A.8511, the statute enumerating "jurisdiction and duties" of magistrates, reads in pertinent part as follows:
"(8)(b) To issue warrants for the arrest of any person upon the written authorization of the prosecuting or municipal attorney.
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"(d) To issue search warrants, when authorized to do so by a district court judge."
The Legislature obviously varied these neighboring sections intentionally so as to require a written authorization order from the prosecutor only for arrest warrants. There is no authority in the statutes or common law of Michigan for extending this requirement to search warrants.
Defendants also contend that the trial judge's finding of guilty of possession of heroin with intent to deliver was not fully supported by the evidence. Our review does not reveal this finding to have been clearly erroneous. GCR 1963, 517.1, People v Jackson, 390 Mich. 621, 627; 212 N.W.2d 918, 921 (1973).
Affirmed.