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What's Included in Our Case Library

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See for yourself

Read one brief, then tap the passage it cites.

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Mirandav.Arizona

384 U.S. 436 (1966)

High Exam Importance

Facts

In March 1963 Ernesto Miranda was arrested at his home in Phoenix and taken to the police station where he was identified by the complaining witness.1 He was then questioned by two officers in Interrogation Room No.2 2 for two hours.3 The officers did not advise him of any right to counsel.4 Miranda signed a typed confession that was introduced at his trial for kidnapping and rape.5

On October 14 1960 Michael Vignera was arrested in connection with a Brooklyn robbery.6 He was taken first to the 17th Detective Squad headquarters in Manhattan and later to the 66th Detective Squad.7 A detective questioned him for several hours without any advice concerning counsel.8 Vignera made an oral admission.9 He was then questioned by an assistant district attorney whose transcribed statement was also introduced at his trial for first-degree robbery.10

On March 20 1963 Carl Calvin Westover was arrested by Kansas City police as a suspect in two local robberies.1112 Kansas City police interrogated Westover on the night of his arrest.13 The next day local officers interrogated him again throughout the morning.14 Westover was then turned over to FBI agents who questioned him for two to two-and-a-half hours about California robberies and obtained signed confessions.15 At the time the FBI agents began questioning Westover he had been in custody for over fourteen hours.16

On January 31 1963 Roy Allen Stewart was arrested at his home in connection with a series of purse-snatch robberies.17 During the next five days police interrogated Stewart on nine different occasions without any advice of rights.18 On the ninth session Stewart confessed.19 Transcripts of the interrogations were introduced at his trial for kidnapping rape and murder.20

The Arizona Supreme Court affirmed Miranda's conviction.21 The New York courts affirmed Vignera's conviction.22 The Ninth Circuit affirmed Westover's conviction.23 The California Supreme Court reversed Stewart's conviction.24 The Supreme Court granted certiorari in the four cases and consolidated them for argument.25

Analysis

Issue #1

Issue

Whether statements obtained from a defendant during custodial police interrogation are admissible at trial when the defendant was not advised of the right to remain silent or the right to the presence of an attorney?26

Legal Rule

The prosecution may not use statements whether exculpatory or inculpatory stemming from custodial interrogation of the defendant unless it demonstrates the use of procedural safeguards effective to secure the privilege against self-incrimination.27 Prior to any questioning the person must be warned that he has a right to remain silent that any statement he does make may be used as evidence against him and that he has a right to the presence of an attorney either retained or appointed.28

Rule Analysis

No. In the case of Ernesto Miranda the defendant was arrested at his home and taken to the Phoenix police station where he was identified by the complaining witness.29 He was then questioned by two officers in Interrogation Room No. 2 for two hours without advice of any right to counsel.30 Miranda signed a typed confession that was admitted at his kidnapping and rape trial.31 Similarly Michael Vignera was arrested in connection with a Brooklyn robbery.32

He was taken to the 17th Detective Squad headquarters and later the 66th Detective Squad.33 Vignera was interrogated for several hours without any advice concerning counsel before making an oral admission and a transcribed statement used at his first-degree robbery trial.34 Carl Calvin Westover was arrested by Kansas City police as a suspect in two local robberies. He was interrogated throughout the night and following morning for more than fourteen hours.35

Westover was then turned over to FBI agents who questioned him for two to two-and-a-half hours about California robberies before obtaining signed confessions.36 Roy Allen Stewart was arrested at his home in connection with purse-snatch robberies.37 During the next five days police interrogated Stewart on nine separate occasions without any advice of rights before confessing with transcripts introduced at his trial for kidnapping rape and murder.

Conclusion

Statements obtained without the required warnings are inadmissible at trial.38

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