Court Opinion

ID: 9634313
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 13:08:41.34738+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:42:18.866293
License: Public Domain

ZAPPALA, Justice,
concurring.
While I agree that the Miranda rule is applicable in the instant case, I must express my concern regarding the implications inherent in an overly-broad interpretation to which a plurality of this Court reaches.
I am concerned that by focusing merely on the “custodial” aspect of the case rather than both “custodial” and “by law enforcement officers”, we open the rule to applications never envisioned. I do not think that was the intent of Miranda nor should we make it so.
*122For this reason, we do not need to stretch nor strain the Miranda rule in order to find in the instant case that warnings should have been given to the appellant prior to the eliciting of his confession. It is not necessary, because Military Officers under the Uniform Code of Military Justice are the equivalent of law officers and as such will be required either under Miranda or the Military Code of Justice itself to warn the appellant of his rights.