Legal Document

352 U.S. 191 77 Supreme Court Reporter 281 1 United States Reports Lawyer’s Edition 2d Series KF101.8 U54 246 William Earl FIKES, Petitioner,v.STATE OF ALABAMA. Number 53. Argued Dec. 6, 1956. Decided Jan. 14, 1957. Defendant's conviction of burglary with intent to commit rape, death sentence, was affirmed by the Alabama, 263 Ala. 89, 81 So.2d 303, and defendant brought certiorari. The Court, Mr. Chief Justice Warren, held that under circumstances, including failure take before a magistrate as required Alabama statute, his incarceration in isolation for week questioning, confessions thus obtained were not voluntary their use denial due process, notwithstanding absence physical brutality long continued interrogation. Jack Greenberg, New York City, petitioner. Robert Straub, respondent. WARREN delivered opinion Court. Petitioner is sentence crime rape. He seeks reversal judgment through writ certiorari which sustained conviction. 303. raised three issues support position he had been denied process law. alleged: 1. Admission into evidence two extracted from him circumstances demonstrating statements coerced or involuntary. 2 2. Denial trial judge petitioner's request testify about manner without subjecting himself unlimited cross-examination facts charged. 3 3. Selection grand jury indicted method systematically discriminated against members race. 4 We granted determine whether requirements Fourteenth Amendment satisfied these aspects 350 993, 76 549. must be reversed because admission confessions. Therefore, it unnecessary at this time decide discuss other 5 essential present decision are follows: 6 During early months 1953, number housebreakings, some involving rape attempted committed City Selma, Alabama. concerned one crimes.1 On night April 24, an intruder broke apartment daughter city's mayor. She awoke find Negro man sitting on her knife throat. A struggle ensued carried woman assailant bedroom, hall, living room, where she finally able seize knife, point fled. These rooms all lighted. victim testified attacker 'had towel draped over head' throughout incident; did identify petitioner testimony trial. However, women similar housebreakings (one resulted rape), they each identified burglar. This admitted 'solely question identity motive occasion then trial.' page 99, 313. This, challenged confessions, substantially concerning 7 About midnight May 16, apprehended alley white neighborhood Selma private persons, who called police. officers jailed 'on open charge investigation.' next day, Sunday, questioning led began. It is, course, highly material ascertain character background. Negro, 27 years old started school age eight left 16 while still third grade. There psychiatrists trial, connection pleaded defense insanity, effect schizophrenic suggestible. His mother always 'thick-headed.' worked gas station home town Marion, 30 miles Selma. So far appears, only prior involvement law store November 1949; released parole January 1951. 8 conducted principally Captain Baker repeatedly advised 'that entitled counsel various rights' viewed light mentality experience just outlined. 9 interrogation began 17, two-hour session morning Baker's office. That afternoon, questioned half hours, during part driven around city locations unsolved burglaries. ride, also talked sheriff county, request, according testimony. 10 Monday, employer. hours morning. warrant served jail, but preliminary hearing. In fact, taken any judicial officer confessions.2 Kilby State Prison, located another 55 80 Marion. responsible removal done protection, although no specific threat made. 11 At kept 'segregation unit,' out contact prisoners. saw jailers drove him. interrogated office prison. there 'several hours' afternoon 'a little while' after supper. Wednesday. lasted evening. following day hour father came prison see him, refused admittance. 12 Thursday evening, first confession occurred. introduced tape recording. consists Baker. responded chiefly yes-or-no answers questions, quite leading suggestive. 13 again Saturday, 23. lawyer turned away. allowed visit son. entire period family friend, matter anyone knew, except talks beginning own presence officers, 14 second incarceration, Tuesday hours. time, Like other, responses questions. down stenographer signed read 15 outline surrounding taking comes entirely witnesses, ones could subject than prisoner himself. testify, judge's ruling would offense charged him.3 Standing alone, State's establishes case within meaning decisions Here uneducated certainly low mentality, if mentally ill. arrested civilians, lodged removed state home. do criticize remove possibility violence might mature, location conditions weighed issue us. For week, isolation, sessions questioning. friend relative. Both barred attempts protections afforded upon hearing contrary Alabama.4 several course five days preceding confession, length written secured. 17 brutality, particular elements cases ruled appear here. hand, cases. objective very much like those Turner versus Commonwealth Pennsylvania, 338 62, 69 1352, 93 L.Ed. 1810, weaker more susceptible record reveals have been. And cf. Johnson 340 881, 71 191, 95 640. totality preceded goes beyond allowable limits. secured setting process. 18 Neither Stein People York, 346 156, 73 1077, 97 1522, nor relied respondent stands way conclusion. Stein, said: 19 'The limits depend weighing pressure power resistance person confessing. what overpowering weak will mind utterly ineffective experienced criminal.' 185, 1093. 20 same standard has utilized case, its total facts. Cf. e.g., Watts Indiana, 49, 53, 1347, 1349, 1801; Lyons Oklahoma, 322 596, 602—605, 64 1208, 1212, 1213, 88 1481. hold applied petitioner, cannot deemed mind, deprived viewed, stand. 21 reversed, cause remanded proceedings inconsistent opinion. 22 Reversed remanded. 23 FRANKFURTER, whom BRENNAN joins, concurring. 24 joining Court's & N Immigration Nationality Decisions should add few words. easy believes strongly adequate accompany responsibility enforcement criminal But Due Process Clause placed limitations discretion, unbridled practical purposes, belonged adoption, and, particularly, confines freedom action devising procedure. assume, common ground disclosed police truncheon blow head such inadmissible Clause. myself, difference, respect 'voluntariness' between subversion punishment sapping appropriately inferred case—detention accused virtually incommunicado period; arraign period;1 horse-shedding intermittent pleasure until forthcoming. No single alone my justify reversal. escape conclusion, however, combination bring result below Plimsoll line 'due process.' 25 court's set aside practices prosecution, agencies, offend may fairly civilized standards Anglo-American world.2 conduct that, however conscientiously pursued, clearly falls standards. Such consonant our professions justice, authoritarian methods we denounce. derives attitude inimical, guide, most enduring interests 26 HARLAN, REED BURTON join, dissenting. conviction, opinion, oversteps boundary function courts administration justice. recognize particularly 'coerced confession' frequently difficult draw. recognized corrective narrower exercises lower federal courts. 50, 1348, 1801. 28 instance think can said procedures followed obtaining violated constitutional usually associated constrained act are, here proportions, separately combination. Concededly, coercion. psychological coercion means manifest. While substantial, intermittent; never exceeded took place normal hours; 'relay' tactics, condemned cases,1 employed. True, mental equilibrium appears less normal, jury. arraignment, practice deprecated, loses significance representation oral argument unusual thing As recognizes, itself make inadmissible. Petitioner's authorization circuit judge, different footing episode Ward Texas, 316 547, 62 1139, 86 1663. am deliberate purpose keep incommunicado, existed supra; Harris South Carolina, supra. Before permitted father, confession,2 confession. sought permission because, having authority represent authorities evidently thought trying solicit business. 29 reviewing record, nothing reasonable men differ conclusions coerced. anything 'shocks conscience' does 'more fastidious squeamishness sentimentalism combatting too energetically,' Rochin California, 342 165, 172, 72 205, 209, 96 183, regard division functions justice requires let Alabama's apparently six incidents. See 96, 310. argument, stated shortly convicted burglaries, sentenced imprisonment 99 years. appeal taken. specifically bringing promptly magistrate: 'It duty person, commission public offense, delay magistrate, deliver specified section 152 title (police officers), forthwith magistrate.' Code 1940, Tit. 15, § 160. Under State, violation requirement render detention. Ingram 252 497, 42 36. Nevertheless, occurrence 'relevant circumstantial inquiry coercion.' 187, 1094, 1522. Prison order letter Circuit Judge. nature procedure conceded judge. colloquy: 'Solicitor Hare: offers recording heretofore witness presently stand (Captain Baker). 'Attorney Hall: If please, objects purports made witness, sufficient predicate laid. Court: Over-rule objection. except, sir, motion. offer put refuting certain allegations reference extra admissions, purpose. Now, please takes stand, insist every item evidence. willing agreement limitation. you offering recording? Just sir. sustain State. reach stipulation insists nature, over-rule motion.' (R. 230—231.) note 2, Flouting prompt arraignment prevailing McNabb States, 318 332, 63 608, 87 819. disregard ordinary extended unrelated extracting 'Ours accusatorial opposed inquisitorial system.' 54, 1350, An analysis phase involved applying convictions basis opinions Malinski 324 401, 412, 65 781, 786, 89 1029; Haley Ohio, 332 601, 68 302, 304, 92 224; See, example, 68, 1354, 1815. silent why gain admittance visit.

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