Street Law, Inc. and The Supreme Court Historical Society
present  Landmark Cases of the U.S. Supreme Court  Street Law /
Background Summary & Questions (•)  Ernesto Miranda was a poor
Mexican immigrant who lived in Arizona in 1963. A woman accused
Miranda of committing a crime against her. The police arrested
Miranda and asked him questions about the crime for two hours.
In the United States, people who are accused of crimes have
certain rights granted by the Constitution. The Fifth Amendment
of the Constitution says that they have the right to be silent.
The Sixth Amendment of the Constitution says that they have the
right to have a lawyer to help defend themselves.  The police
did not tell Miranda that he had these rights when they arrested
him. After the police were finished asking Miranda questions, he
signed a confession. The police used his confession in the trial
and Miranda was convicted of the crime. The judge decided he
should serve 20 to 30 years in prison for each crime.  Miranda
appealed his c