criminal justice final

Powell v. Alabama

• Rule: Right to counsel in capital cases

• Key idea: Must have effective and timely counsel

• Applies when: Death penalty cases; counsel must be appointed early enough to prepare

Betts v. Brady

• Rule: Counsel only required in “special circumstances”

• Key idea: Not a general right (later overturned)

• Applies when: Complex case, illiterate defendant, etc.

Gideon v. Wainwright

• Rule: Right to counsel in all felony cases

• Key idea: Fundamental right → applies to states

• Applies when: Any felony charge (retroactive)

Argersinger v. Hamlin

• Rule: Right to counsel if jail is possible

• Key idea: Focus = loss of liberty, not charge type

• Applies when: Misdemeanor with possible imprisonment

Strickland v. Washington

• Rule: Ineffective assistance test

• Key idea: Hard to win—must show deficiency + prejudice

• Applies when: Claiming bad lawyer affected outcome

Nix v. Whiteside

• Rule: Lawyer cannot assist perjury

• Key idea: Ethics > client wishes

• Applies when: Defendant wants to lie on the stand

Faretta v. California

• Rule: Right to self-representation

• Key idea: You can waive counsel if it’s knowing + voluntary

• Applies when: Defendant chooses to represent themselves

Brown v. Mississippi

• Rule: Physical coercion invalidates confession

• Key idea: Due process violation

• Applies when: Beatings, torture, etc.

Spano v. New York

• Rule: Psychological coercion invalidates confession

• Key idea: Voluntariness depends on total pressure

• Applies when: Manipulation, emotional coercion

Escobedo v. Illinois

• Rule: Right to counsel during police questioning

• Key idea: Precursor to Miranda

• Applies when: Suspect asks for lawyer and is denied

Miranda v. Arizona

• Rule: Must give Miranda warnings

• Key idea: Protect against compelled self-incrimination

• Applies when: Custody + interrogation

Berghuis v. Thompkins

• Rule: Must clearly invoke rights

• Key idea: Silence alone is NOT enough

• Applies when: Suspect doesn’t explicitly say “I invoke my rights”

Rhode Island v. Innis

• Rule: Defines interrogation

• Key idea: Includes indirect questioning likely to elicit response

• Applies when: Police use subtle tactics

Brewer v. Williams

• Rule: “Burial speech” = interrogation

• Key idea: Psychological tactics still count

• Applies when: Officers try to elicit statements without direct questioning

Illinois v. Perkins

• Rule: No Miranda for undercover agents

• Key idea: No coercion if suspect doesn’t know it’s police

• Applies when: Jailhouse informants/undercover

Harris v. New York

• Rule: Illegal statements can impeach

• Key idea: Can’t lie on the stand

• Applies when: Defendant testifies inconsistently

Pennsylvania v. Muniz

• Rule: Nontestimonial evidence allowed

• Key idea: Physical evidence ≠ protected

• Applies when: Slurred speech, sobriety tests, etc.

United States v. Wade

• Rule: Right to counsel at post-indictment lineups

• Key idea: Lineups are a “critical stage”

• Applies when: After formal charges

Simmons v. United States

• Rule: No overly suggestive photo IDs

• Key idea: Protect against misidentification

• Applies when: Police use biased photo arrays

Neil v. Biggers

• Rule: Reliability test

• Key idea: “Totality of circumstances” controls

• Applies when: Evaluating eyewitness ID validity

Coleman v. Alabama

• Rule: Right to counsel at preliminary hearing

• Key idea: It’s a critical stage

• Applies when: Early adversarial proceedings

Gerstein v. Pugh

• Rule: Prompt probable cause review required

• Key idea: Prevents unlawful detention

• Applies when: Warrantless arrest

County of Riverside v. McLaughlin

• Rule: “Prompt” = within ~48 hours

• Key idea: Sets a clear timeline

• Applies when: Delay in judicial review

Stack v. Boyle

• Rule: Bail must be individualized

• Key idea: No blanket bail amounts

• Applies when: Courts set bail

United States v. Salerno

• Rule: Bail can be denied

• Key idea: Public safety > release

• Applies when: Defendant is dangerous

United States v. Armstrong

• Rule: Strict standard for selective prosecution

• Key idea: Must prove intent + effect

• Applies when: Claiming discrimination

United States v. Williams

• Rule: No duty to present exculpatory evidence

• Key idea: Grand jury favors prosecution

• Applies when: Indictment process

Brady v. United States

• Rule: Guilty plea must be voluntary

• Key idea: Pressure ≠ coercion if lawful

• Applies when: Accepting plea deals

North Carolina v. Alford

• Rule: Can plead guilty while claiming innocence

• Key idea: Strategic plea allowed

• Applies when: Strong evidence but deny guilt

Bordenkircher v. Hayes

• Rule: Prosecutor can threaten harsher charges

• Key idea: Leverage is allowed

• Applies when: Plea negotiations

United States v. Marion

• Rule: Speedy trial starts at charge/arrest

• Key idea: Pre-charge delay ≠ violation

• Applies when: Delay before indictment

Barker v. Wingo

• Rule: 4-factor balancing test

• Key idea: No strict deadline

• Applies when: Evaluating delay