Which body typically issues a warrant?

• A. City council
• B. Attorney general
• C. A police officer's desk
• D. A court or judge

Answer: (D)

Warrants are judicial orders issued by a court or judge. In criminal procedure, a warrant authorizes a search or an arrest and must be based on probable cause shown in an affidavit. A court or judge reviews the evidence and signs the warrant, providing an impartial check on police power. Police officers carry out warrants, but they do not issue them themselves.

The city council cannot issue warrants because it’s a legislative body, not a judicial one. The attorney general handles certain legal matters and prosecutions, but issuing warrants isn’t their routine role. A police officer’s desk is the place for preparing or executing warrants, not issuing them.

So the best answer is that a court or judge issues warrants.