American Government

2. STANDARD
SSCG16 The student will demonstrate knowledge
of the operation of the federal judiciary

3. BACKGROUND CHECK
• Ernesto Miranda: poor man who lived in the state of
Arizona.
• Already convicted of several crimes, and was
arrested once again off of an accusation that he
committed a crime against her.
• Officers didn’t inform him of his 5th and 6th
amendment rights (self-incrimination and right to an
attorney)
• Local courts found him guilty from a confession,
sentencing him to 20 – 30 years in prison, but
Miranda’s lawyer appealed to the Supreme Court of
Arizona.
• Supreme Court of Arizona decided to deny his
appeal, so they appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.

4. THE FINAL VERDICT
• After many appeals, the U.S.
Supreme Court finally decided in
favor of Ernesto Miranda.
• In a 5-4 decision, the U.S. Supreme
Court decided that Ernesto Miranda
was to be dropped from all
charges, as he was not informed of
his 5th amendment and 6th
amendment upon arrest and that
he understood his rights.
• He was not informed that he had
the right not to testify against
himself, and the right to an attorney
at any point before and during the
interrogation process.

5. SIGNIFICANCE
• Supreme Court’s decision made reciting the 5th and 6th amendments a
routine part of every arrest. Gaining the nickname “Miranda Rights” or
“Mirandizing someone, is reciting those rights to a person who is
elected.
• If someone isn’t read their Miranda rights today, they technically cannot
be tried in a court of law.