Interrogations and Police Deceptions – Moran v. Burbine

Abstract

The United States Supreme Court recently addressed the issue of whether police officers' failure to inform a suspect of his attorney's efforts to reach him would deprive the suspect of information essential to his ability to knowingly waive his fifth amendment rights under Miranda. The Court also considered the effect of the officers' misinforming the suspect's attorney about their plans to interrogate the suspect. Finally, the Court decided whether the officers' actions violated the suspect's sixth amendment right to counsel and fourteenth amendment guarantee of due process. In Moran v. Burbine, the Court held that the officers' conduct did not violate the suspect's fifth, sixth, or fourteenth amendment rights.