Shadwick v. City of Tampa, 407 U.S. 345 (1972)

Shadwick v. City of Tampa


No. 71-5445


Argued April 10, 1972
Decided June 19, 1972
407 U.S. 345

APPEAL FROM THE SUPREME COURT OF FLORIDA

Syllabus

City charter provision authorizing municipal court clerks to issue arrest warrants for breach of municipal ordinances held to comport with requirements of the Fourth Amendment that warrants be issued by a neutral and detached magistrate who must be capable of determining whether probable cause exists for issuance of the warrant. The clerks, though laymen, worked within the judicial branch under supervision of municipal court judges, and were qualified to make the determination whether there is probable cause to believe that a municipal code violation has occurred. Pp. 347-354.

250 So.2d 4, affirmed.

POWELL, J., delivered the opinion for a unanimous Court.