Chevally & Anor v Inspector Rodney Morrison

The applicants, Chevally and another, sought judicial review of a decision made by Inspector Rodney Morrison. The dispute concerned the validity of a search warrant issued under the *Crimes Act 1914* (Cth). The matter came before the High Court of Australia.

The central legal issue before the High Court was whether the search warrant was validly issued, specifically concerning the requirement that the issuing officer must have reasonable grounds to believe that an offence has been, or is being, committed. The applicants contended that the information before Inspector Morrison at the time of issuing the warrant did not satisfy this threshold.

The High Court considered the nature of the belief required for the issuance of a search warrant. Their Honours held that the belief must be objectively justifiable based on the information available to the issuing officer. A mere suspicion or a belief not grounded in reasonable grounds would render the warrant invalid. The Court analysed the evidence presented to Inspector Morrison and concluded that it did not provide a sufficient evidentiary basis to form a reasonable belief that an offence under the *Crimes Act 1914* had been, or was being, committed. Consequently, the warrant was found to be invalid.

The High Court made orders quashing the search warrant.