Doyle v. Ohio

Petitioner

Jefferson Doyle

Respondent

State of Ohio

Petitioner's Claim

That the prosecutor's use of Doyle's post-arrest silence during his trial for the purpose of casting doubt on Doyle's testimony violated the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

Chief Lawyer for Petitioner

James R. Willis

Chief Lawyer for Respondent

Ronald L. Collins

Justices for the Court

William J. Brennan, Jr., Warren E. Burger, Thurgood Marshall, Lewis F. Powell, Jr. (writing for the Court), Potter Stewart, Byron R. White

Justices Dissenting

Harry A. Blackmun, William H. Rehnquist, John Paul Stevens

Place

Washington, D.C.

Date of Decision

23 February 1976

Decision

Jefferson Doyle's right to due process was violated when a state prosecutor challenged the validity of his testimony through questions about his post-arrest silence after receiving the Miranda warning.

Related Cases

• Bruno v. United States, 308 U.S. 287 (1939).
• Griffin v. California, 380 U.S. 609 (1965).
• Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966).
• United States v. Hale, 422 U.S. 171 (1975).
• Wood v. Ohio, 427 U.S. 610 (1976).

Further Readings

• Alschuler, Albert W. "A Peculiar Privilege in Historical Perspective: The Right to Remain Silent." Michigan Law Review, August 1996, p. 2625.