Almost everyone has heard of their “Miranda” rights, but not everyone may understand the history behind the rights, or even what is specifically granted by these rights. So let’s talk about that today.
Miranda rights are named after a famous Supreme Court case from 1966. The case stemmed from a 1963 arrest of Ernesto Miranda, who confessed to crimes after hours of interrogation. However, the police never informed Miranda of his right to legal counsel, and as such his confession was ultimately inadmissible. The 1966 case gave us “Miranda” rights, and they read as such:
“You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you.”