05.24.10 - Dickerson
v. The United States (1999) |
Synopsis:
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RESOURCES
ACTIVITY Anyone who has ever
watched Law and Order-type shows knows the familiar police phrase: “You have
the right to remain silent.” That statement and others that follow about the
right to a lawyer are commonly known as “Miranda Rights.” The Fifth Amendment
protects an accused person’s right not to incriminate himself, and the Sixth
Amendment protects the right to have a lawyer’s help in one’s criminal
defense. In a case from the
1960s, Ernesto Miranda was suspected of kidnapping and rape. He was
interrogated by police and confessed to the crimes. The Supreme Court
overturned Miranda’s conviction because he had not been adequately informed
by police that he had the right to remain silent, or that he had the right to
legal counsel. The phrase “Miranda Warnings” or “Miranda Rights” comes from
that case, Miranda v. Arizona (1966). The Supreme Court held that if police do not inform
suspects of their rights while they are in police custody, statements made by
the suspects may not be used against them later at their trials. Two years after the
ruling in Miranda,
Congress passed a law stating that federal judges must allow confessions by
suspects to be used at trial if the confessions were made voluntarily. In
other words, if a suspect confessed on their own (as opposed to admitting the
crime while being interrogated), then the confession could be used in Court,
even if police had not read the suspect his or her Miranda rights. Some
believe this law was designed to overrule the Miranda ruling, while others
believe it does not contradict the Miranda ruling at all since it only involves voluntary confession
that were not part of an interrogation. This federal law
became an issue in a case in the 1990s: Dickerson v. United States. Dickerson was indicted for bank robbery.
At his trial, Dickerson tried to have a confession he had made in an FBI field
office suppressed, because he had not been read his rights. A Circuit Court
upheld the federal law allowing voluntary confessions, reasoning that
informing suspects of Miranda rights was not a constitutional requirement.
The case went to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court
ruled for Dickerson (7-2). Justice Rehnquist, writing for the majority,
wrote: “Miranda,
being a constitutional decision of this Court, may not be in effect overruled
by an Act of Congress.” The Court also reasoned that Miranda warnings had become expected in the US:
“Miranda has become embedded in routine police practice to the point where
the warnings have become part of our national culture.” COMPREHENSION AND
CRITICAL THINKING QUESTIONS 1.
Why is the case of Miranda v. Arizona (1966) important to understanding Dickerson v. United
States (1999)? 2.
What were the facts
of the case in Dickerson v. United States (1999), and how did the Court rule? 3.
The Fifth Amendment
states in part, “nor shall [any person] be compelled in any criminal case to
be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property,
without due process of law.” o What does “compelled” mean? o Using your definition of the term, would any
of the following be “compelled” confessions? § A suspect confesses as soon as he sees
police approaching him. § A suspect confesses as soon as police ask
him where he was the night of the murder. § A suspect confesses as soon as he is
arrested. § A suspect confesses after being promised
something (e.g. a lighter sentence) § A suspect confesses after being threatened. § A suspect confesses after being physically
tortured. § In your interpretation of this amendment,
should voluntary confessions by suspects be admissible in federal court? 4.
The Supreme Court
interpreted the Fifth and Sixth Amendments in Miranda v. Arizona (1966). Should Congress be able to pass
laws that “overrule” a Supreme Court interpretation of the Bill of Rights? 5.
How does this case,
in which the Supreme Court was asked to rule if Congress can overrule one of
its rulings, test the Constitution’s separation of powers and checks and
balances? ANSWERS 1.
The ruling in Miranda v. Arizona was at the heart of Dickerson v. United
States, because like Miranda, the Dickerson case was about the constitutionality of using accused person’s
statements against them. Furthermore, the Dickerson case turned on whether Congress had tried to “overrule” the Miranda decision by requiring federal judges to
admit voluntary confessions into evidence and if so, whether that act was
within Congress’ power. 2.
Dickerson was
indicted for bank robbery, and tried to have incriminating statements he had
made in an FBI field office suppressed because he had not been read his
Miranda rights. The Court ruled for Dickerson and held his confession was
inadmissible. 3.
Accept reasoned
answers. Students who believe the Fifth Amendment only bars confessions that
are in some way coerced or forced may suggest that voluntary confessions
should be permitted in court. Students who believe that “due process”
requires police to inform suspects of their rights or any statements are
invalid will may suggest that voluntary confessions cannot be considered
truly “voluntary” unless a suspect is informed they do not have to speak at
all. 4.
Accept reasoned
answers. 5.
The case tests the
constitutional separation of powers by shining a light on the nature of
Supreme Court rulings and “constitutional rules.” The case raises the
question of whether a Supreme Court’s interpretation of part of the
Constitution (in this case, the Fifth and Sixth Amendment) should be on par
with the Constitution itself when limiting acts of Congress. Furthermore, it
tests the system of checks and balances because of the improbability that one
branch of government would act in such a way as to give another branch
greater power. |
Last Edited On 5/21/2010
4:00:00 PM |