What is issued by a judge to allow law enforcement to search a property?

A search warrant is a legal document issued by a judge or magistrate that authorizes law enforcement officers to conduct a search of a specific location and seize evidence related to a crime. This document is essential to upholding the Fourth Amendment rights, which protect individuals from unreasonable searches and seizures. To obtain a search warrant, law enforcement must present probable cause, typically through an affidavit detailing the facts and circumstances that justify the search.

The other options represent different legal instruments with distinct purposes. For instance, a writ of assistance is a type of administrative search order that was historically used but is not prevalent in current legal practices. An arrest warrant authorizes law enforcement to apprehend an individual suspected of a crime, rather than searching a property. A subpoena is a legal document ordering a person to testify or produce evidence in a legal proceeding, which does not grant the authority to search premises. Thus, the specificity of a search warrant makes it the correct answer in this context.