Monday, December 23, 2013

Maine v. Moulton case brief

Maine v. Moulton case brief summary
474 U.S. 159 (1985)

CASE SYNOPSIS
Petitioner appealed the ruling of the Supreme Judicial Court (Maine) granting respondent's motion for a new trial and excluding inadmissible statements made by respondent regarding his pending crimes in secret recordings with a police informant.

CASE FACTS
Respondent and co-defendant were charged in a multi-count indictment with committing various criminal offenses. Both entered not guilty pleas and were released on bail pending trial. Co-defendant later confessed to police and agreed to cooperate with the prosecution of respondent. Co-defendant was wired by police and met with respondent under the guise of discussing their pending charges and trial strategy. Respondent made several incriminating statements in this recorded conversation. The prosecution introduced the statements into evidence at trial and defendant was convicted of burglary and theft. The appellate court remanded the matter for new trial, ruling the state could not use the statements. Petitioner appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.

DISCUSSION

  • The Court granted certiorari and affirmed the ruling excluding the statements, because the police knowingly circumvented respondent's U.S. Constitutional Amendment VI right to assistance of counsel since they knew he would make incriminating statements.

CONCLUSION
The court affirmed the ruling excluding the statements, because the police knowingly circumvented respondent's U.S. Constitutional Amendment VI right to assistance of counsel since they knew he would make incriminating statements.


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