Miranda v. Arizona (1966) gave rise to the “Miranda warning” now issued upon arrest after the Court ruled 5-4 that suspects must be informed of their rights before they are questioned. These rights include the Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and the Sixth Amendment right to an attorney.

In 1963, Phoenix police arrested Ernesto Miranda as a suspect in a recent kidnapping and rape case. The victim identified Miranda in a lineup, and after being interrogated by officers for two hours, he signed a written confession admitting his guilt. The form Miranda signed included a general acknowledgement that he had “knowledge of my legal rights,” but Miranda’s attorney argued at trial and before the Supreme Court that no one told Miranda what those rights were. In his opinion for the Court, Chief Justice Earl Warren directed police departments across the country to inform suspects of their right to an attorney and against self-incrimination before questioning them. The ruling forever changed law enforcement practices and made the words “you have a right to remain silent…” widespread on television and throughout American life.