The Supreme Court of Rhode Island - Assignment Example

The Providence Police informed Burbine of his Miranda Rights according to which, he could ask for an attorney’s presence “to dissipate the compulsion inherent in custodial interrogation and, in so doing, guard against abridgment of the suspect’s Fifth Amendment Rights”. In three sessions, the police informed him of his Miranda rights and he signed a written form acknowledging, “he [did] not want an attorney called or appointed for [him]” due to which, the court ruled out that he "knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily waived his privilege against self-incrimination [and] his right to counsel." So, his conviction was retained.

Analysis
Brian Burbine was arrested along with two others on a charge of local burglary. Before the arrest, Detective Ferranti found out through a confidential report that Burbine who was known by the name Butch murdered Ms. Hickey brutally some months ago. She was left unconscious and wounded in a factory parking lot after which, she was sent to the hospital where she died after three weeks because of her wounds. The Detective informed Burbine about his Miranda rights, but he was not ready to sign a written waiver. However, the detective called police assistance after which, three police officers reached for interrogating the suspect. Burbine’s sister tried to gain access to attorney’s assistance for the burglary case against his brother and Ms. Munson was asked for assistance. When Ms. Munson called the police station, she was told that they had Burbine in custody, but she was also assured that he would not be interrogated till morning. However, the officers were already busy in interrogating Burbine after which, they received three waivers with his confession of murder.

The police officials informed him three times about his Miranda rights, but he negated to get any attorney’s help. He was not aware that his sister was busy arranging some legal assistance for him, but he signed three waivers acknowledging his guilt. When he was trailed, he appealed for the suppression of the three waivers because he was denied his rights as per the Fifth Amendment and Fourteen Amendment of the Constitution. However, the court decided against him because according to the court, he "knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily waived his privilege against self-incrimination [and] his right to counsel." The cases applicable here are Miranda v. Arizona (1966) and State v. Burbine (1982).

Conclusion
The Supreme Court of Rhode Island decided that Burbine was adequately informed about his right to access a lawyer, but he willfully and knowingly signed the waivers showing his consent for no legal assistance at that juncture. Therefore, his appeal for suppression of valid waivers against his denial of constitutional rights was rejected. Read More