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Rhode Island v. Innis - Significance, The Supreme Court Ruling, Further Readings

Petitioner

State of Rhode Island

Respondent

Thomas J. Innis

Petitioner's Claim

That a conversation between two police officers with a murder suspect within earshot did not constitute an interrogation in violation of the suspect's Miranda rights.

Chief Lawyer for Petitioner

Dennis J. Roberts II

Chief Lawyer for Respondent

John A. MacFadyen III

Justices for the Court

Harry A. Blackmun, Warren E. Burger, Lewis F. Powell, Jr., William H. Rehnquist, Potter Stewart (writing for the Court), Byron R. White

Justices Dissenting

William J. Brennan, Jr., Thurgood Marshall, John Paul Stevens

Place

Washington, D.C.

Date of Decision

12 May 1980

Decision

Suspect Thomas J. Innis was found to have not been interrogated by the police.

Related Cases

  • Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966).
  • United States v. Henry, 447 U.S. 264 (1980).
  • Edwards v. Arizona, 451 U.S. 477 (1981).
  • Maine v. Moulton, 474 U.S. 159 (1985).
  • Kuhlmann v. Wilson, 477 U.S. 436 (1986).

Additional Topics

Rhode Island v. Innis - Significance

In Rhode Island v. Innis, the Supreme Court clarified the definition of interrogation as it relates to the Miranda rule, which prohibits police officers from interrogating suspects if they have requested legal representation. The events in this case follow the death of a Providence, Rhode Island, taxi driver in a shotgun murder. Shortly after this murder, a second taxi driver was robbed by a man w…

Rhode Island v. Innis - Further Readings

Rhode Island v. Innis - The Supreme Court Ruling

On 12 May 1980 the Supreme Court issued its decision. In a 6-3 vote, it vacated the ruling of the Rhode Island Supreme Court. Justice Stewart wrote the majority opinion, in which he was joined by Justices Blackmun, Rehnquist, Powell, and White. Chief Justice Burger concurred with the judgment but did not sign on with the majority opinion. Justices Marshall, Brennan, and Stevens dissented. Since al…

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