Court Opinion

ID: 9762109
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 02:10:48.220713+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:29:30.179899
License: Public Domain

SEILER, Presiding Judge
(dissenting).
I would remand this case for specific findings by the trial court on whether the Miranda warnings were given, and, if they were, whether defendant knowingly and intelligently waived his privilege against self-incrimination and his right' to have retained or appointed counsel present at the interrogation. I agree the trial court’s findings could be taken as meaning the trial court accepted as true all the officers said and rejected as untrue all the defendant said. The trial court’s findings can also be taken, however, as limited to finding there were no threats, coercion, or promises of leniency, and that the statements were accordingly voluntary. I do not believe Jackson v. Denno, 378 U.S. 368, 84 S.Ct. 1774, 12 L.Ed.2d 908, and Sims v. Georgia, 385 U.S. 538, 87 S.Ct. 639, 17 L.Ed.2d 593, are authority for holding the findings in the case before us show with “unmistakable clarity” what the court’s conclusions were on the several issues which were before it. Jackson v. Denno preceded Miranda and involved a confession allegedly made while defendant was under medication and suffering from shock and loss of blood. Sims v. Georgia was after Miranda, but it, too, involved a confession allegedly obtained by physical coercion. Neither case involved determination by the trial court of a compliance with the Miranda warning. In other words, the issues in those cases were narrower, and what would have been sufficient there to satisfy “unmistakable clarity” does not mean the finding in the present case is sufficient. I see nothing to be gained by leaving the issue in doubt and believe we should make it clear, if it has not already been done, *55that in cases such as this the trial courts should, as declared in Evans v. United States (C.C.A. 8) 375 F.2d 355, make specific findings as to whether (1) the Miranda warnings were given; (2) the defendant knowingly and intelligently waived his privilege against self-incrimination, and (3) voluntarily, knowingly and intelligently waived his right to have retained or appointed counsel present at his investigation.