New CAAF grant

CAAF granted review today on the following issue: "Whether the military judge abused her discretion in denying the defense motion to suppress all evidence from Appellant's home." United States v. Cowgill, __ M.J. ___, No. 09-0376/AF (C.A.A.F. June 23, 2009). AFCCA's unpublished decision in the case is available here. United States v. Cowgill, No. S31404 (A.F. Ct. Crim. App. June 23 2009). The AFCCA panel had split 2-1 on the validity of the search of SSgt Cowgill's home. Judge Helget's opinion for the court, joined by Judge Brand, concluded that the military judge didn't abuse her discretion by concluding that the civilian magistrate had a sufficient basis to issue the search warrant. The majority also concluded that even if there was inadequate probable cause, the fruits of the search would still be admissible under the Fourth Amendment exclusionary rule's good faith exception. Judge Jackson dissented from both of those holdings.