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APRIL 6, 2009, 2:00 P.M. ET Court Rules for Suspect in Dispute Over Confession Associated Press WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court ruled Monday that confessions obtained by federal authorities before a suspect's first court appearance may be inadmissible if more than six hours elapse between an arrest and a court date. The court said in a 5-4 decision that long delays before a suspect sees a judge can give the government too much leverage over someone who has been arrested. "Federal agents would be free to question suspects for extended periods before bringing them out in the open, and we have always known what custodial secrecy leads to," Justice David Souter wrote in the majority opinion. The prisoner in the case, Johnnie Corley, was arrested on suspicion of robbing a credit union in Norristown, Pa. The FBI agents who arrested him didn't take him to court for his initial appearance for 29 1/2 hours, during which time they elicited a confession from Mr. Corley. Under federal law and previous court decisions, confessions obtained within six hours of an arrest are presumed to be valid and may be used at trial. The question in Mr. Corley's case was what courts should do with confessions when there is a delay before the first court appearance. The federal appeals court in Philadelphia said Mr. Corley's admission that he robbed the bank could be used against him, ruling that the confession was voluntary despite the delay. The Supreme Court set aside that ruling Monday and ordered lower courts to examine whether the confession was given during the first six hours after arrest. If it came later, Justice Souter said, courts must throw out the confession if they find that the delay in taking the prisoner to court was "unreasonable or unnecessary." Justices Stephen Breyer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Anthony Kennedy and John Paul Stevens voted with Justice Souter. In dissent, Justice Samuel Alito said confessions that are voluntarily given should be admitted into evidence regardless of the time that passes before a prisoner first goes to court. Justice Alito said concerns about coerced confessions have largely been dealt with by Miranda warnings, which officers give at the time of an arrest by informing suspects of their right not to answer questions and obtain a lawyer's help. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas joined Justice Alito's dissent. Decision Against Navajo Nation In another case, the court ruled against the Navajo Nation for a second time in its battle with the federal government over whether the tribe should have gotten more money for coal on its land. The high court, in an unanimous opinion Monday, reversed a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. The appeals court had said the federal government failed to uphold its trust duties to the Navajo Nation and that the tribe is entitled to damages from the government. The tribe has alleged that Peabody Energy conspired with the Interior Department to persuade the tribe to accept a lower royalty than other government officials believed the tribe should be paid for coal on its land. The Navajos claim the government's breach of trust cost them as much as $600 million in lost coal royalties. This is the second victory for the federal government in this case. The Supreme Court ruled in 2003 the Interior Department had protected the tribe's interests under the Indian Mineral Leasing Act. "Today we hold, once again, that the tribe's claim for compensation fails," said Justice Scalia, writing for the court. "This matter should now be regarded as closed." |