Court Opinion

ID: 9581595
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 22:16:34.093037+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:37:06.713522
License: Public Domain

BURKE, J.
I dissent. The crucial question on this appeal is whether under Miranda1 the making of a telephone call by defendant to an attorney during the booking process has the same effect as if defendant during police in-custody interrogation asserted his rights to remain silent, or to have an attorney present.
*959The majority opinion answers this question in the affirmative rendering inadmissible statements given by defendant during a subsequent custodial interrogation at a separate time and by different officers at which, after again being fully informed of his rights, defendant expressed the desire to waive them and made the objected-to statements. In addition to Miranda the majority rely on this court’s decisions in People v. Ireland, 70 Cal.2d 522 [75 Cal.Rptr. 188, 450 P.2d 580], and People v. Fioritto, 68 Cal.2d 714 [68 Cal.Rptr. 817, 441 P.2d 625]. I submit that these decisions do not impel the ruling of the majority in this case and that it is an unwarranted extension of the Miranda holding.
In Miranda, supra (at pp. 444-445 [16 L.Ed.2d at pp. 706-707]) the court stated: “The defendant may waive effectuation of these rights, provided the waiver is made voluntarily, knowingly and intelligently. If, however, he indicates in any manner and at any stage of the process that he wishes to consult with an attorney before speaking there can be no questioning. Likewise, if the individual is alone and indicates in any manner that he does not wish to be interrogated, the police may not question him.” (Italics added.)
In the instant case defendant (1) in no manner indicated to the police that he desired to see an attorney before speaking; and (2) gave no indication to them that he did not wish to be interrogated. Before the commencement of each separate interrogation the police scrupulously gave defendant the full Miranda warning, asked him if he understood his rights and if he was willing to give up these rights and talk with the officers. In each instance he indicated he understood his rights and was willing to talk to the officers. This case is therefore clearly distinguishable from a Miranda-type interrogation during which a defendant indicates that he desires to consult his attorney before he answers any questions or that he desires to have his attorney present during such questioning.
In People v. Ireland, supra, 70 Cal.2d 522, during the process of interrogation upon his arrest defendant was asked whether he had anything to say and his response was “Call my parents for my attorney,” but this request was not complied with and our court held that since the defendant had indicated he wanted an attorney the interrogation should have terminated until an attorney was present.
People v. Fioritto, supra, 68 Cal.2d 714, likewise is clearly distinguishable from the instant case. There, after defendant was brought into the police station he was advised of his Miranda rights and was asked to sign a waiver. Defendant refused. Immediately thereafter he was confronted *960with two accomplices who had confessed, whereupon he subsequently waived his rights and confessed to the crime. This court ruled that in refusing to sign the waiver defendant in effect indicated that he wished to remain silent and that under the application of Miranda the interrogation should have terminated immediately.
It is also worthy of note that this defendant was not without knowledge and experience in dealing with police. He had previously been convicted of a felony and was subsequently charged and admitted the prior conviction. The trial judge heard the testimony of both the police officers and the defendant and was convinced that there was no impropriety, and for the reasons indicated I believe the conviction of the defendant should be affirmed.

Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 [16 L.Ed.2d 694, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 10 A.L.R.3d 974].