Opinion ID: 1848945
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Type of hearing to be used in determining Miranda objections

Text: It is apparent, however, that in each case, whether the challenge is under Goodchild or under Miranda, substantially the same type of inquiry must be made by the court. In Miranda the question is, was the confession or other statement obtained under such circumstances of custodial interrogation as to require the exclusion of the statement from evidence. In Goodchild the question is, was the statement involuntary and therefore should be excluded from evidence. In each case, of course, the credibility or trustworthiness of the statement remains a question to be determined by the jury. We therefore conclude that Miranda, like Goodchild, should require a hearing by the trial judge out of the presence of the jury. The Goodchild procedure has been outlined in the case bearing that same name. A similar procedure should be followed in the event of a Miranda objection. The court should determine the merits of that objection sitting alone, out of the presence of the jury and preferably, as in Goodchild, in a pretrial proceeding. Following such a hearing in which the facts are heard, the court's finding would have to be made beyond a reasonable doubt and the state would have the burden of proving compliance with Miranda or a waiver of those requirements. The determination would be subject to the same standard of review by this court as are rulings on the admissibility of confessions challenged as involuntary. We, accordingly, herein adopt the procedure of the Goodchild hearing in determining Miranda questions, as was suggested in the concurring opinion of Mr. Justice WILKIE in Hayes v. State (1968), 39 Wis. 2d 125, 136, 158 N. W. 2d 545. If both Miranda and Goodchild objections are made to the same statements, the matter could be disposed of in a single hearing although separate findings would be required.