Balkinization: Miranda is a Symbol

Comments:

Prof. Levinson spoke of "a preceding constitutional norm against potentially abusive police interrogation" ... which sounds like "treating criminal defendants fairly." I think he recognizes the symbolism and this is why the criticism of Bazelon was upsetting.

# posted by

Joe : 12:15 PM

Yes, I was a bit too harsh. I should have said "somewhat misses the point."

# posted by

Gerard N. Magliocca : 12:41 PM

There is no public evidence that the Tsarnaevs were members of any foreign nation or group at war with the United States and thus cannot be detained as enemy combatants under the law of war.

Conservatives need to avoid the fallacy of terrorist = enemy combatant the same way that liberals need to avoid the fallacy of terrorist = civilian criminal defendant. Context is everything.

Justice was substantively (not just symbolically) correct to employ the public safety exception to the Miranda warning evidentiary rule. These terrorists just finished detonating two bombs at the marathon finish line and then either used or deployed further explosives in their flight. Law enforcement has every right to ask and there is nothing unfair about asking the surviving terrorist if they have planted other bombs and whether he is part of a larger group planting bombs or committing other terrorist acts.

# posted by

Bart DePalma : 1:39 PM

Rights are not symbolic, or a privilege based on political signalling or calculation.

That said, There are really no "Miranda rights." Miranda warnings are merely a prophylactic measure meant to ensure that the defendant is aware of his rights. I doubt that the defendant was unaware of his fifth amendment right to keep quiet. Was he under duress? that's a tougher question.

More interesting, since this is a death penalty case, is whether questioning prior to a Miranda warning reduced his ability to plea bargain his case down to life in return for answering questions. Maybe its not the questioning per se but the right to counsel (vis-a-vis the ability to get a plea deal) that was infringed.

Overall, though, I see this debate as a positive sign. That fact that people are even debating the "public safety exception" on CNN for a terrorist shows how seriously we take rights in this country. The uncle on TV was pretty good - I love this country because everybody is treated like a human being. Well, that's the goal anyway.

# posted by

dwb : 3:32 PM

"There are really no "Miranda rights."

You don't have a right to have a lawyer present or refuse to answer questions during custodial interrogation?

# posted by

Mr. Whiskas : 3:41 PM

Rights without "prophylactic measures" to actually protect them in real world situations are weak reeds. "Miranda rights" ultimately are expressed near the end of the opinion:

"From the testimony of the officers and by the admission of respondent, it is clear that Miranda was not in any way apprised of his right to consult with an attorney and to have one present during the interrogation, nor was his right not to be compelled to incriminate himself effectively protected in any other manner."

It is a comprehensive thing -- being advised of his rights in some stock way alone will not "effectively protect" the person.

# posted by

Joe : 3:53 PM

Well said Joe. I guess one could say one has no 'exclusionary rule' rights, just Fourth Amendment rights just as some say one has no 'Miranda rights' just Fifth and Sixth Amendment rights, but in both cases the rules are a tool tied to and for the purpose of safeguarding those rights.

# posted by

Mr. Whiskas : 4:06 PM

The government can force someone to appear before a Grand Jury. If they are given use immunity for their testimony, then they are required to answer under oath any question put to them. They are not entitled to have a lawyer present in the Grand Jury room. There is no constitutional right to remain silent. Of course, when a Grand Jury does the questioning instead of the police, there is Judicial supervision. At the same time, while you may remain silent during police questioning, one granted use immunity any refusal to answer questions before a Grand Jury is punished by imprisonment.

Police questioning without a Miranda warning is just an informal prelude to the far more legally coercive questioning before a Grand Jury. You have more rights and options with the police.

# posted by

HowardGilbert : 6:57 PM

"Police questioning without a Miranda warning is just an informal prelude to the far more legally coercive questioning before a Grand Jury. You have more rights and options with the police."

The "informal" nature along with it not being in open court with "judicial oversight" in reality leads to some different "rights" and "options" in a police station than during a Grand Jury. Also, even if the lawyer isn't there, you can consult with the lawyer beforehand and at times during.

So, mixed bag there, reality-wise.

# posted by

Joe : 8:02 PM

The Miranda exceptions are growing. It is now routine for police about to conduct a search to ask an un-Mirandized suspect whether there is "anything we ought to know about" in the location. This query, supposedly to protect the officers against booby traps or dangerous chemicals, is in fact used to connect the suspect with the premesis, to prove knowledge of the criminal activity, and to prove knowledge of the nature of the object of the search.

At the same time, the scope of Miranda is shrinking. The rights must now be unequivocally invoked, and officers are allowed to ask questions to "clarify" the intent of the suspect. "Knock and talks" are considered voluntary, even though the officer has relied on a show of authority to justify asking them.

It is ironic that the original post referred to Miranda itself, when there is so little of that decision remaining.

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It is clear that Miranda was not in any way apprised of his right to consult with an attorney and to have one present during the interrogation.
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# posted by

mark teknoloji : 2:25 AM

I doubt that the defendant was unaware of his fifth amendment right to keep quiet. Was he under duress? that's a tougher question.
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