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Decided

Howes v. Fields

Docket No.10-680
Op. Below6th Cir.
ArgumentOct 4, 2011
Vote6-3
AuthorSamuel Alito
OpinionFeb 21, 2012
TermOctober Term 2011
SCOTUS PageOpinion

Holding

The Sixth Circuit"s categorical rule " that an interrogation is per se custodial, for purposes of Miranda v. Arizona, when a prisoner is questioned in private about events occurring outside the prison " is not clearly established by Supreme Court precedent. And by a vote of six to three, the Court held that the Sixth Circuit"s rule is also wrong.

Judgment

Reversed, 6-3, in an opinion by Samuel Alito on Feb 21, 2012. Justice Ginsburg filed an opinion concurring in part and dissenting in part, which Justices Breyer and Sotomayor joined.

Merits Briefs for the Petitioner

Amicus Briefs in Support of the Petitioner

Merits Briefs for the Respondent

Amicus Briefs in Support of the Respondent

[##CERT-STAGE##]

Related Coverage

Proceedings & orders timeline

Nov 18, 2010
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due December 27, 2010)
Dec 15, 2010
Brief of respondent Randall Lee Fields in opposition filed.
Dec 15, 2010
Motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed by respondent .
Dec 29, 2010
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of January 14, 2011.
Dec 29, 2010
Reply of petitioner Carol Howes, Warden filed. (Distributed)
Jan 10, 2011
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of January 14, 2011.
Jan 18, 2011
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of January 21, 2011.
Jan 24, 2011
Motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed by respondent GRANTED.
Jan 24, 2011
Petition GRANTED.
Mar 1, 2011
The time to file the joint appendix and petitioner's brief on the merits is extended to and including May 9, 2011.
Mar 1, 2011
The time to file respondent's brief on the merits is extended to and including July 8, 2011.
Apr 15, 2011
Further extension of time to file the joint appendix and petitioner's brief on the merits to and including May 23, 2011.
May 11, 2011
Motion to dispense with printing the joint appendix filed by petitioner Carol Howes, Warden.
May 23, 2011
Brief of petitioner Carol Howes, Warden filed.
May 31, 2011
Motion to dispense with printing the joint appendix filed by petitioner GRANTED.
May 31, 2011
Brief amicus curiae of the United States filed.
May 31, 2011
Brief amici curiae of Ohio, et al. filed.
Jul 7, 2011
Brief of respondent Randall Lee Fields filed.
Jul 12, 2011
Motion of the Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument filed.
Jul 14, 2011
Brief amicus curiae of Donovan E. Simpson filed.
Jul 19, 2011
SET FOR ARGUMENT ON Tuesday, October 4, 2011.
Aug 2, 2011
CIRCULATED.
Aug 8, 2011
Reply of petitioner Carol Howes, Warden filed. (Distributed)
Aug 9, 2011
Record from U.S.C.A. for 6th Circuit is electronic.
Aug 9, 2011
Record from U.S.D.C. fo Eastern District of Michigan is electronic.
Aug 15, 2011
Motion of the Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument GRANTED.
Oct 4, 2011
Argued. For petitioner: John J. Bursch, Solicitor General, Lansing, Mich.; and Ginger D. Anders, Assistant to the Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C. (for United States, as amicus curiae.) For respondent: Elizabeth L. Jacobs, Detroit, Mich.
Feb 21, 2012
Judgment REVERSED. Alito, J. delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Roberts, C. J., and Scalia, Kennedy, Thomas, and Kagan, JJ., joined. Ginsburg, J., filed an opinion concurring in part and dissenting in part, in which Breyer and Sotomayor, JJ., joined.
Mar 26, 2012
JUDGMENT ISSUED.

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