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California v. Prysock

United States Supreme Court
453 U.S. 355 (1981)

Facts

Prysock (defendant) and a co-defendant were suspects in the murder of Donna Iris Erickson. At the police station, Prysock was given the warnings required by Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966) and refused to speak. After Prysock’s parents arrived, Prysock agreed to be interrogated. The officer again gave Prysock all of the Miranda warnings, but did not follow the same formulation set forth in Miranda. In particular, the warning that Prysock had a right to have an attorney appointed for free came several warnings after the warning that Prysock had a right to consult with an attorney and have that attorney present during questioning. The trial court denied Prysock’s motion to suppress the interrogation. Prysock was tried by jury and convicted of first-degree murder. The appellate court reversed the conviction on the grounds that the Miranda warnings were not sufficient and ordered a new trial. The United States Supreme Court granted certiorari.

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Dissent (Stevens, J.)

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