Wainwright, Secretary, Florida Department of Corrections v. Greenfield (474 U.S. 284)
U.S. Supreme Court · decided January 14, 1986 · Supreme Court Database (Spaeth)
- Citation
- 474 U.S. 284 · 106 S. Ct. 634
- Decided
- January 14, 1986
- Term
- October Term 1985
- Vote
- 9–0
- Majority author
- Justice Stevens
- Issue area
- Criminal Procedure
- Disposition
- Affirmed
- Outcome
- Petitioning party lost
- Ideological direction
- Liberal
Opinion excerpt
Justice Stevens delivered the opinion of the Court. Respondent entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity to a charge of sexual battery. At his trial in the Circuit Court for Sarasota County, Florida, the prosecutor argued that respondent’s silence after receiving Miranda warnings was evidence of his sanity. The question presented is whether such use of a defendant’s silence violates the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment as construed in Doyle v. Ohio, 426 U. S. 610 (1976). HH The battery occurred in woods near a beach in the vicinity of Sarasota, Florida. After respondent released his victim, she drove directly to the police station to report the incident. Based on her description, Officer Pilifant identified respondent on the beach and placed him under arrest about two hours after the assault occurred. After handcuffing him, the officer gave respondent the warnings required by our decision in Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U. S. 436, 467-473 (1966). Specifically, Officer Pilifant stated: “You have a right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to talk to a lawyer and have him present with you while you are being questioned. If you cannot afford to hire a lawyer one will be appointed to represent you before any questioning if you wish. You can decide at any time to exercise these rights and not…
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