Police Can’t Be Sued Over Miranda Warnings, Justices Rule (1)

Police can’t be sued for failing to read criminal defendants their Miranda warnings, the US Supreme Court ruled.

In a 6-3 decision Thursday which broke along ideological lines, the court said its landmark ruling in Miranda v. Arizona doesn’t provide a basis for criminal defendants to bring civil rights suits against police for not providing these warnings against self-incrimination.

Miranda is one of several 1960s criminal justice rulings long-criticized by conservatives. Important to the conservative majority, was the distinction between constitutional violations and “prophylactic rules” meant to gaurd against constitutional violations.

Because claims under 42 U.S.C. §1983—the civil rights statute ...