High Court Limits Miranda in 5-4 Ruling

June 1, 2010 by legitgov

High Court Limits Miranda in 5-4 Ruling

Silence Right Must Be Invoked Explicitly, Court Says 01 Jun 2010 Criminal suspects must explicitly invoke their right to remain silent to force police to stop questioning, a divided U.S. Supreme Court ruled. The 5-4 decision upholds the Michigan murder conviction of a man who sat silent throughout most of a three-hour interrogation by police. The ruling blunts the force of the landmark 1966 Miranda v. Arizona decision, which required police to inform suspects of their rights. The ruling divided the court along what have become familiar lines, with Chief 'Justice' John Roberts and 'Justices' Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito joining Kennedy in the majority.