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Salinas v. Texas

Docket No.12-246
ArgumentApr 17, 2013

Holding

When petitioner had not yet been placed in custody or received Miranda warnings, and voluntarily responded to some questions by police about a murder, the prosecution"s use of his silence in response to another question as evidence of his guilty at trial did not violate the Fifth Amendment because petitioner failed to expressly invoke his privilege not to incriminate himself in response to the officer"s question.

Judgment

Affirmed, 5-4, in an opinion by Samuel Alito on Jun 17, 2013. Justice Thomas, joined by Justice Scalia, concurred only in the judgment. Justice Breyer filed a dissenting opinion joined by Justice Ginsburg, Justice Sotomayor, and Justice Kagan.

Disclosure: Goldstein & Russell, P.C., whose attorneys work for or contribute to this blog in various capacities, is among the co-counsel to the petitioner in this case.

Holding: When petitioner had not yet been placed in custody or received Miranda warnings, and voluntarily responded to some questions by police about a murder, the prosecution”s use of his silence in response to another question as evidence of his guilty at trial did not violate the Fifth Amendment because petitioner failed to expressly invoke his privilege not to incriminate himself in response to the officer”s question.

Judgment:”Affirmed, 5-4, in an opinion by Justice Alito on June 17, 2013. Justice Thomas, joined by Justice Scalia, concurred only in the judgment. Justice Breyer filed a dissenting opinion joined by Justice Ginsburg, Justice Sotomayor, and Justice Kagan.

Proceedings & orders timeline

Aug 24, 2012
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due September 26, 2012)
Sep 26, 2012
Brief amicus curiae of National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers filed.
Sep 26, 2012
Waiver of right of respondent Texas to respond filed.
Oct 3, 2012
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of October 26, 2012.
Oct 10, 2012
Response Requested . (Due November 9, 2012)
Nov 14, 2012
Order extending time to file response to petition to and including December 10, 2012.
Dec 10, 2012
Brief of respondent Texas in opposition filed.
Dec 19, 2012
Reply of petitioner Genovevo Salinas filed.
Dec 19, 2012
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of January 11, 2013.
Jan 11, 2013
Petition GRANTED.
Jan 29, 2013
Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs, in support of either party or of neither party, received from counsel for the respondent.
Jan 29, 2013
Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs, in support of either party or of neither party, received from counsel for the petitioner.
Feb 11, 2013
SET FOR ARGUMENT ON Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Feb 20, 2013
Joint appendix filed. (Statement of costs received.)
Feb 20, 2013
Brief of petitioner Genovevo Salinas filed.
Feb 26, 2013
Brief amicus curiae of American Civil Liberties Union filed.
Feb 27, 2013
Brief amicus curiae of American Board of Criminal Lawyers filed.
Feb 27, 2013
Brief amici curiae of Rutherford Institute, et al. filed.
Feb 27, 2013
Brief amici curiae of National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, et al. filed.
Mar 6, 2013
Brief amicus curiae of Wayne County, Michigan filed. (Distributed)
Mar 8, 2013
CIRCULATED.
Mar 11, 2013
Record from Court Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas is electronic.
Mar 22, 2013
Brief of respondent Texas filed. (Distributed)
Mar 28, 2013
Brief amicus curiae of Criminal Justice Legal Foundation filed. (Distributed)
Mar 29, 2013
Brief amicus curiae of the United States filed. (Distributed)
Mar 29, 2013
Motion of the Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument filed.
Mar 29, 2013
Brief amici curiae of Illinois, et al. filed. (Distributed)
Apr 10, 2013
Reply of petitioner Genovevo Salinas filed. (Distributed)
Apr 12, 2013
Motion of the Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument GRANTED.
Apr 17, 2013
Argued. For petitioner: Jeffrey L. Fisher, Stanford, Cal. For respondent: Alan K. Curry, Houston, Tex.; and Ginger D. Anders, Assistant to the Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C. (for United States, as amicus curiae.)
Jun 17, 2013
Adjudged to be AFFIRMED. Alito, J., announced the judgment of the Court, and delivered an opinion, in which Roberts, C. J., and Kennedy, J., joined. Thomas, J., filed an opinion concurring in the judgment, in which Scalia, J., joined. Breyer, J., filed a dissenting opinion, in which Ginsburg, Sotomayor, and Kagan, JJ., joined.
Jul 19, 2013
Mandate Issued

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