Document: 357 U.S. 504 78 S.Ct. 1297 2 L.Ed.2d 1523 Vincent CICENIA, Petitioner,v.R. William LA GAY, Superintendent of New Jersey State Prison Farm at Rahway,New Jersey. No. 177. Argued April 2, 1958. Decided June 30, Mr. Dickinson R. Debevoise, Newark, N.J., for petitioner. C. Caruso, respondent. Justice HARLAN delivered the opinion Court. 1 We are asked to reverse under Due Process Clause Fourteenth Amendment Constitution United States a state conviction which was entered upon plea non vult an indictment first degree murder. In evening March 17, 1947, Charles Kittuah, owner small dry goods store in Jersey, shot and killed during course robbery. The crime remained unsolved until December 1949, when Newark police obtained information implicating petitioner two others, Armando Corvino John DeMasi. Petitioner lived with his parents Orange, Apparently acting request police, Orange sought locate home. When told that her out, left word he report headquarters following day. advice Frank A. Palmieri, lawyer, who advised him as requested. did so, accompanied by father brother. Upon arrival station 9 a.m. on 18, separated from others taken detectives headquarters. At approximately p.m. same day petitioner's father, brother arrived station. Palmieri immediately see petitioner, but this refused police. He repeated intervals throughout afternoon well into evening, without success. During period being questioned intermittently lawyer. These requests were also denied. Lawyer client not permitted confer 9:30 p.m., time had made signed written confession murder Kittuah. is record. 3 arraigned next day, 19, subsequently indicted, along DeMasi, both whom confessed Thereafter, moved Essex County Court order requiring produce inspection before trial confessions co-defendants and, alternatively, suppressing ground it been illegally obtained. denied motion. Superior dismissed appeal, v. Cicenia, N.J.Super. 135, 75 A.2d 476, Supreme affirmed dismissal, modifications. 6 N.J. 296, 568. held no procedure like Rule 41(e) Federal Rules Criminal Procedure, 18 U.S.C.A., inadmissible evidence could be suppressed trial; law criminal defendants have absolute right inspect their advance judge instance abuse discretion disallowing such inspection. 4 Following failure suppress or obtain attorney, offered plead indictment. subject discretionary acceptance court, Martin, 92 N.J.L. 436, 106 385, 17 A.L.R. 1090, carries maximum sentence life imprisonment. Petitioner's accepted similar pleas whose cases us. thereupon sentenced imprisonment hard labor. 5 Thereafter commenced habeas corpus proceedings courts, alleging actuated existence confession, vitiated Constitutions because coerced derogation assistance counsel. Court, turn relief,1 certiorari. Cicenia 350 925, 76 215, 100 L.Ed. 809. then District federal proceeding us, attacking grounds stated above. discharged writ, holding failed establish involuntariness State's refusal permit communicate counsel inquiry deprive due process. Application D.C., 148 F.Supp. 98. Appeals affirmed, Cir., 240 F.2d 844, we granted certiorari consider constitutional questions presented. Lagay, 354 908, 77 1297, 1426.2 An independent examination record satisfies us justified concluding substantiate charge coerced. does now contend contrary. continues contend, however, even though voluntary, nevertheless detention headquarters, based must fall well.3 7 contention disposed Crooker California, 433, 1287, decided today. There California's honor Crooker's interrogation consult yet unretained, violate Amendment. Because present case, opportunity lawyer already retained, sharply points up issue involved, some additional observations order. 8 share strong distaste expressed lower courts over episode disclosed Cf. Stroble 343 181, 197—198, 72 599, 607, 96 872. Were prosecution would little difficulty dealing what occurred our general supervisory power administration justice courts. See McNabb States, 318 332, 63 608, 87 819. But hold happened here violated quite another matter. difficulties inherent problem require extensive elaboration. Watts Indiana, 338 49, 57—62, 69 1347, 1351, 1359, 93 1801 (opinion Jackson, J.). On one hand, indisputable has high place scheme procedural safeguards. other can hardly adoption position constrict activities manner many instances might impair ability solve difficult cases. A satisfactory formula reconciling these competing concerns found any broad pronouncement yield all instances. Instead, point out supra, judging whether prosecutions meet requirements process, achieve proper accommodation considering defendant's lack pertinent element determining circumstances attended fundamental unfairness. House Mayo, 324 42, 45—46, 65 517, 519—520, 89 739; Payne Arkansas, 356 560, 567, 849, 975. 10 contrast, denial questioning violates irrespective particular involved. Such holding, its ultimate reach, mean interrogate suspect giving secure Even refrained laying down inflexible rule. supra; Mallory 449, 1256, 1479. Still less should impose standard each 48 matter compulsion.4 It known law-enforcement problems vary widely State, among different communities within State. This often recognized 'very essence federalism widest latitude own systems justice.' Hoag 464, 468, 829, 833, 913. Maxwell Dow, 176 581, 20 448, 44 597; Twining 211 78, 29 14, 53 97. rule apply foreign spirit conceived way implemented 11 remaining briefly. argues deprived process required confession. 12 reach so far. As earlier pages 299—301, 568, 570—571, allow trial. consistent practice jurisdictions. See, e.g., Haas, 188 Md. 63, 51 647; People Skoyec, 183 Misc. 764, 50 N.Y.S.2d 438; Clark, 21 Wash.2d 774, 153 P.2d 297. Leland Oregon, 790, 801—802, 1002, 1008—1009, 1302, absence showing prejudice defendant violation deny client's true available defense several days case rested, whereas pleaded think principle nonetheless applicable. said (343 page 801, 1008), although may 'better practice' comply inspection, cannot say offended Tune, 230 883, 890—892. 13 Affirmed. 14 BRENNAN took part consideration decision case. 15 DOUGLAS, CHIEF JUSTICE BLACK concur, dissenting. 16 Petitioner, pursuant home Saturday, appeared 18th. Palmieri. visit Shortly thereafter where interrogated confessed. Between again client; granted. phase said: 'Mr. produced witness affidavit admitted stipulation. contents testimony variance restrained communicating other. According witnesses Palmieri's met blunt refusals remarks 'We're working him.' claim much more decorous. done flippantly courteously, fact remains seven hours formed insuperable barrier between accused wanted counsel, client. And assistant prosecutor able detailed petitioner.' 98, 99—100. reached 'without enthusiasm' conclusion rights impaired. Id., 104. evinced enthusiasm result. 844. Both felt correction unjust result come I regret companion cases, occasion bring decisions tune requirement fair against citizen. judgment reasons my dissent 441, 1293. opinions reported. wrote opinion. Although properly here, obliged jurisdiction view circumstances: pleads guilty waives attack based. re Domako, 314, 90 591, 95 505. rule, corpus. appeal advert question, prior arraignment. Grillo, 173, 328. gave denying leave appeal. Since dealt claims merits, they them. Brown Allen, 344 443, 486, 73 397, 422, 97 469; Hawk Olson, 326 271, 278, 66 116, 120, 61. agree exists. definitive ruling Domako waiver applies vult, shall assume Court's nonfederal ground. Stembridge Georgia, 541, 834, 1130. Our strengthened rely challenge conclude Amendment, need further never 'used' him, having cf. Com. Pa. ex rel. Herman Claudy, 223, 126. alone arrest Rogers, 143 Conn. 167, 120 409; Utah Sullivan, 227 511; Kelly, 404 Ill. 281, N.E.2d 27. Most generally unclear begins. Beaney, Right Counsel American Courts, 127—128; A.L.R.2d 1003, 1032 et seq.

Category: 0