Monday, April 30, 2012

What Happened to Miranda?

I exchanged all my files and a mild Northeast winter for palm trees and heat for a long weekend.  Even crime fighters need a break.

On the plane, I thought of this post.  Not many people are aware of what happened to Ernesto Miranda, the man made famous by the Supreme Court in the case of Miranda v. Arizona.  I've discussed Miranda warnings and New York law previously

But, what happened to Ernesto Miranda after the Supreme Court reversed his conviction for rape, kidnapping, and armed robbery?  Arizona retried him, without the confession, and a jury again convicted him. 

He spent eleven years in prison and then was on parole for a few years.  He spent those years peddling personally autographed Miranda cards. 

In 1976, he got in a violent altercation and was stabbed to death.  Police questioned the suspect with a card labelled "Miranda Rights."  The suspect did not confess to the crime.  The police released him and he promptly fled to Mexico.

The case shifted the legal landscape surrounding confessions.  Miranda's name is used everyday across this country.  It's odd to think that Ernesto Miranda, a convicted rapist, is one of the most recognizable names in the country.

See you all Wednesday.

6 comments:

  1. My criminal procedure professor in law school told a funny story about Ernesto Miranda, something I thought a prosecutor in particular might find amusing.

    The professor said that his mother called him when it was reported in the media that Miranda had died. What a shame, the professor's mother said. After all Miranda did for our country, too.

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  2. P.S. I have got to post on my own blog more often. I like it when my name is above D.A. Confidential's on your blogroll.

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  3. Love the Miranda story. Mapp, Gideon, Miranda, Wade, Payton, and countless other defendants probably never thought they would be most famous for what happened after they were convicted. Given the choice, I bet they would have taken an acquittal rather than helping to change criminal law for future defendants.

    Consider that an extra incentive for your already frequent posts.

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  4. Unrelated, but I figured I would ask: could possibly delve into what being "on call" for a (big city) ADA? Do you have to go to crime scenes to take witness statements, etc.?

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  5. Great idea. There will be a post between a big city ADA and small county ADA coming too.

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  6. Wow, that is really crazy when you think about it that way! Great post!

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