Court Opinion

ID: 9543950
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 16:50:48.241085+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:11:33.475142
License: Public Domain

Bogdanski, J.
(dissenting). The result in this case is not mandated by North Carolina v. Butler, 441 U.S. 369, 99 S. Ct. 1755, 60 L. Ed. 2d 286 (1979). That case held that a waiver of Miranda rights need not be by an express statement but may be inferred from the actions and words of the person interrogated. The question is not one of form, but rather whether the defendant in fact knowingly and voluntarily waived the rights delineated in the Miranda case.
*288As was unequivocally said in Miranda, “mere silence is not enough.” Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S. Ct. 1602, 16 L. Ed. 2d 694 (1966); North Carolina v. Butler, supra, 373. Here we do not have the “silence” referred to by North Carolina v. Butler. When asked if he understood his constitutional rights, the defendant replied, “Yes, I do.” No threats or promises were made to induce his confession. It is not necessary that a defendant state the words, “I waive my rights.” The majority opinion expands upon North Carolina v. Butler by overlooking the defendant’s admitted understanding of his rights when it examined the evidence that his course of conduct in freely speaking to the officers indicated a waiver of the rights which had been read to him. It is also not necessary that the state put on evidence showing the defendant’s mental ability, educational level, lack of intoxication, etc. See, e.g., United States v. Boston, 508 F.2d 1171 (2d Cir. 1974), cert. denied, 421 U.S. 1001, 95 S. Ct. 2401, 44 L. Ed. 2d 669 (1975); United States v. Speaks, 453 F.2d 966 (1st Cir.), cert. denied, 405 U.S. 1071, 92 S. Ct. 1522, 31 L. Ed. 2d 804 (1972); United States v. Stuckey, 441 F.2d 1104 (3d Cir.), cert. denied, 404 U.S. 841, 92 S. Ct. 136, 30 L. Ed. 2d 76 (1971); United States v. Hilliker, 436 F.2d 101 (9th Cir. 1970), cert. denied, 401 U.S. 958, 91 S. Ct. 987, 28 L. Ed. 2d 242 (1971); People v. Johnson, 70 Cal. 2d 541, 450 P.2d 865, cert. denied, 395 U.S. 969, 89 S. Ct. 2120, 23 L. Ed. 2d 758 (1969), (holding that a “silent record” is a record which does not show that a defendant was informed of his rights), overruled on other grounds, 18 Cal. 3d 889, 558 P.2d 872 (1972); People v. Weaver, 179 Colo. 331, 500 P.2d 980 (1972).