Document: 455 U.S. 603 102 S.Ct. 1309 71 L.Ed.2d 490 Lloyd FLETCHER, Superintendent, Bell County Forestry Campv.Eric WEIR. No. 81-1049. March 22, 1982. PER CURIAM. 1 In the course of a fight in nightclub parking lot, Ronnie Buchanan pinned respondent Weir to ground. then jumped his feet and shouted that he had been stabbed; ultimately died from stab wounds. Respondent immediately left scene, did not report incident police. 2 At trial for intentional murder, took stand own defense. He admitted stabbing Buchanan, but claimed acted self-defense was accidental. This in-court statement first occasion on which offered an exculpatory version stabbing. The prosecutor cross-examined him as why had, when arrested, failed either advance explanation arresting officers or disclose location knife used Buchanan. found guilty by jury first-degree manslaughter. conviction affirmed appeal Supreme Court Kentucky. 3 United States District Western Kentucky granted writ habeas corpus, Appeals, Sixth Circuit affirmed. 658 F.2d 1126 (1981). Appeals concluded denied due process law guaranteed Fourteenth Amendment postarrest silence impeachment purposes.1 Although it appear record read Miranda warnings,2 court defendant cannot be impeached use even if no warnings given. held "it is inherently unfair allow cross-examination concerning post-arrest silence," F.2d, at 1130, rejected contention our decision Doyle v. Ohio, 426 610, 96 2240, 49 91 (1976), applied only where police defendant. Because we think gave overly broad reading supra, reverse its judgment. 4 One year prior Doyle, exercise supervisory power over federal courts following giving ordinarily so ambiguous have little probative value. Hale, 422 171, 95 2133, 45 99 (1975). There said: 5 "In light many alternative explanations pretrial silence, do sufficiently inconsistency with testimony warrant admission evidence thereof." Id., 180, S.Ct., 2138. 6 principles evolved basis decisional dealing appeals within system are not, course, necessarily based any constitutional principle. Where they free follow disregard them long state procedure whole remains consistent law. See Cupp Naughten, 414 141, 146, 94 396, 400, 38 368 (1973). after were called upon decide issue similar presented Hale context criminal proceeding. While recognizing importance exposing fabricated defenses, because nature would violation comment may well encouraged: 7 "[W]hile true contain express assurance will carry penalty, such implicit person who receives warnings. circumstances, fundamentally deprivation arrested person's impeach subsequently trial." 618, 2245 (footnote omitted). 8 significant difference between present case does indicate received during period remained silent arrest. majority recognized difference, sought extend cover Weir's situation stating "[w]e arrest, itself, governmental action implicitly induces remain silent." 1131. We this broadening unsupported reasoning contrary post-Doyle decisions. 9 Jenkins Anderson, 447 231, 239, 100 2124, 2129, 65 86 (1980), pre-arrest 10 "Common traditionally has allowed witnesses their previous failure fact circumstances naturally asserted. 3A J. Wigmore, Evidence § 1042, p. 1056 (Chadbourn rev. 1970). Each jurisdiction formulate rules determine inconsistent statements reference probative." 11 Jenkins, other cases, consistently explained government induced assuring against him. Roberts States, 445 552, 561, 1358, 1365, 63 622 observed post-conviction, presentencing resemble "postarrest assurances contained warnings." noted speak involved occurred before taken into custody given warnings, commenting U.S., 239-240, 2130. Finally, Anderson Charles, 404, 407-408, 2180, 2182, 222 "Miranda inform right assure him, least implicitly, . bars maintained receipt assurances." absence sort affirmative embodied believe violates State permit chooses take stand. A entitled, situations, leave judge under resolution extent deemed defendant's testimony. 12 motion proceed forma pauperis granted. 13 petition certiorari granted, judgment reversed, remanded proceedings opinion. 14 It ordered. 15 Justice BRENNAN set oral argument. 16 MARSHALL dissents summary reversal case. During cross-examination, also questioned arrest offer story. Relying correctly there impropriety prosecutor's respondent's purposes. Arizona, 384 436, 1602, 694 (1966).

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