Miranda v. Arizona
GREYSON PETTUS
PLS 211
MR. NOEL
DECEMBER 2ND, 2015
Defendant of the Case

Ernesto Miranda

Was only educated to an 8th grade level

Was arrested numerous times

Was mentally unstable
https://www.bing.com/images/searc
h?q=ernesto+miranda&FORM=HDRS
 Was interrogated for two hours by police officers C2

Arrested for the kidnapping and rape of an

Confessed both verbally and on paper

Was convicted and sentenced to 20 to 30 years in prison
The Original Case

Arrested for the kidnapping and rape of an 18 year old girl

Was interrogated for two hours by police officers

Confessed both verbally and on paper

Was convicted and sentenced to 20 to 30 years in prison

After Miranda was convicted, his lawyer appealed to the Supreme
Court of Arizona

The Supreme Court of Arizona supported the original decision

Miranda’s lawyer appealed to the Supreme Court of the United
States of America

After Miranda’s lawyer became unable to carry on due to health
reasons, the ACLU got John Flynn to serve pro bono
Issue of Law

Miranda was undeniably guilty

However, the piece of evidence that was the center of the case
was obtained through unconstitutional means

By pressuring Miranda, who had limited education and mental
capacity, to confess had violated his 5th and 6th amendment rights
The Supreme Court

Escobedo v. Illinois

There were four other court cases that were very similar to Miranda’s

The Supreme Court agreed to hear all of these cases to clear up
any resonating effects from Escobedo v. Illinois

Flynn and his associates argued that due to mental instability and
poor education, Miranda did not know his rights and was forced to
sign the confession
Supreme Court’s Decision

5-4 vote in favor of Miranda

Affirmation: Chief Justice Warren, and Justices Black, Douglas,
Brennan, and Fortas

Dissention: Justices Harlan, Stewart, and White

Dissention in part: Justice Clark
Written Affirmation

Chief Justice Warren

Police interrogation can intimidate a suspect into blurting out a
confession that may or may not be true due to fear

Criminals are usually uneducated, therefore, they will most likely not
know there basic rights given to them by the Bill of Rights
http://patriotspokenword.com/ho
me/patriotic/people/chief-justiceearl-warren
Written Dissention

Justices Harlan and White

This decision could allow dangerous criminals to avoid conviction
and could put the American people at risk

Support for this decision cannot be found in any major document
https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Justice+White&view=detailv2&&id=97
E1D901F97B57B7421D9526A465F1539CE7E935&selectedIndex=1&ccid=QR9DXzLY
&simid=608004298604349177&thid=OIP.M411f435f32d8232c11fcf26034981ee5H1
&ajaxhist=0
After Miranda v. Arizona

Miranda’s trial was thrown out

He was retried by the state of Arizona, this time without his
confession

Used his victim and the woman he lived with as witnesses

Found guilty of kidnapping and rape and sentenced to 20 to 30
years in prison

Released after 5 years on parole

Killed by a man who was never convicted because was aware of
his Miranda rights.
Implications on Daily Life and
Society

After the Supreme Court made its decision, police departments all
across the U.S. began issuing cards with the “Miranda Warning” on
them.

The words on those cards are now known by almost everyone due
to it being said on popular television shows that feature the arresting
of criminals

This court case has made the general public more aware of their
basic rights
Disinfo.com
Works Cited

"Facts and Case Summary - Miranda v. Arizona." United States Courts. Accessed December 4,
2015. http://www.uscourts.gov/educational-resources/educational-activities/facts-and-casesummary-miranda-v-arizona.

"Miranda v. Arizona 384 U.S. 436 (1966)." Justia Law. Accessed December 4, 2015.
https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/384/436/#annotation.


"Miranda v. Arizona." PBS. Accessed December 4, 2015.
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/supremecourt/rights/landmark_miranda.html.

"Miranda v. Arizona." IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law. Accessed December 4, 2015.
https://www.oyez.org/cases/1965/759.

“Miranda v. Arizona." History.com. Accessed December 4, 2015.
http://www.history.com/topics/miranda-v-arizona.

"The Miranda Warning - The U.S. Constitution Online - USConstitution.net." The Miranda Warning The U.S. Constitution Online - USConstitution.net. Accessed December 4, 2015.
http://www.usconstitution.net/miranda.html