Lead Opinion
The case sub judice presents this Court with the issue of whether a police detective’s modification of the Miranda warnings to state that Petitioner could be appointed counsel “at some time” satisfied the requirements of Miranda v. Arizona,
Did the Court of Special Appeals err in reversing the findings of the trial Court that an interrogating detective’s modification of the Miranda warnings to suggest that she would be appointed counsel “at some time” improperly implied that the defendant could not have appointed counsel during her interrogation?
The State filed a Conditional Cross-Petition for Writ of Certiorari, presenting us with two additional questions:
1. Did the Court of Special Appeals lack jurisdiction to consider Rush’s cross-appeal where the State noted an interlocutory appeal from the grant of a motion to suppress under Section 12-302(c)(3) of the Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article?
2. Assuming arguendo that an appellate court has jurisdiction to consider Rush’s interlocutory cross-appeal, does the record in this case establish that Rush’s statement to the police was voluntary and not the product of any improper inducement?2
We shall hold that the advisements, as modified, did satisfy the requirements of Miranda and although Rush did not have the right to cross-appeal, she did have the right, in the State’s appeal, to defend the ruling of the trial court on alternative grounds.
I. Introduction
On May 1, 2006, Petitioner, Cindi Renee Katherine Rush, was arrested by Corporal Chinn and other members of the Prince George’s County Police Criminal Investigation Division on a warrant charging her with murder in the first degree of Patricia Caniglia. Rush was transported to the District III Station where she was interviewed by Detective Kerry Jernigan.
DETECTIVE JERNIGAN: It’s Cindi, right?
THE DEFENDANT: Mm-hmm.
DETECTIVE JERNIGAN: How are ya?
THE DEFENDANT: All right.
DETECTIVE JERNIGAN: My name’s Detective Jernigan.
THE DEFENDANT: Mm-hmm.
DETECTIVE JERNIGAN: Do you know why you’re here?
THE DEFENDANT: No. I’d really like to know.
DETECTIVE JERNIGAN: Okay. Well, I’m gonna tell ya. We’re investigating the death of—was it Ms. Caniglia?
THE DEFENDANT: Uh-huh.
DETECTIVE JERNIGAN: I know you know her.
THE DEFENDANT: Yeah.
DETECTIVE JERNIGAN: Okay.
THE DEFENDANT: I went to her funeral.
DETECTIVE JERNIGAN: Okay. And what I wanna do is talk to you about that incident where she was killed.
THE DEFENDANT: Okay.
DETECTIVE JERNIGAN: Okay?
THE DEFENDANT: Okay.
DETECTIVE JERNIGAN: Do you have any problems talkin’ to me?
THE DEFENDANT: No. That’s fine.
DETECTIVE JERNIGAN: All right. You ever been—
THE DEFENDANT: Anything you wanna know.
DETECTIVE JERNIGAN: You ever been arrested before or—
THE DEFENDANT: No.
DETECTIVE JERNIGAN:—dealt with the police at all?
THE DEFENDANT: No.
DETECTIVE JERNIGAN: All right. Before I can talk to ya, I’m sure you’re aware, you watch TV, I have to advise you of your constitutional rights. I can’t ask you questions until I’ve done that.
THE DEFENDANT: Okay.
DETECTIVE JERNIGAN: And give you a opportunity—
THE DEFENDANT: Okay.
DETECTIVE JERNIGAN:—to decide if you wanna talk to me or not. But that’s what I wanna talk to you about. I understand you used to work for them at one time or—
THE DEFENDANT: Yeah, mm-hmm.
DETECTIVE JERNIGAN:—know the, know Anthony?
THE DEFENDANT: I used to live with them. I used to work for them about three years ago.
DETECTIVE JERNIGAN: Okay.
THE DEFENDANT: Mm-hmm.
DETECTIVE JERNIGAN: All right. Well, let’s get the formalities out of the way.
THE DEFENDANT: Okay.
DETECTIVE JERNIGAN: Need anything to drink or anything or—
THE DEFENDANT: No. I’m okay.
DETECTIVE JERNIGAN: Okay.
THE DEFENDANT: Actually, I was wonderin’, I don’t know why I’m even here. The detective, police showed up at my door and arrested me, said I had a warrant.
DETECTIVE JERNIGAN: Okay. Cindi, how far’d ya get in school?
THE DEFENDANT: Ninth grade.
DETECTIVE JERNIGAN: Do you know how to read? THE DEFENDANT: Yeah, I’ve taken GED classes and I just haven’t been able to go take the test. I’m very (unintelligible). I have my CNA license and everything.
DETECTIVE JERNIGAN: Okay. All right. Just to prove to me that you know how to read—
THE DEFENDANT: Mm-hmm.
DETECTIVE JERNIGAN:—I’m gonna let you read a portion of this statement for me, okay?
THE DEFENDANT: Okay.
DETECTIVE JERNIGAN: Can you move that chair on up? Read this first sentence—
THE DEFENDANT: Mm-hmm.
DETECTIVE JERNIGAN:—on the top line for me.
THE DEFENDANT: “I am now going to read to you your rights under the law.”
DETECTIVE JERNIGAN: Very good. All right. I’m gonna read the rest to you out loud and then we’ll go over it together, okay?
THE DEFENDANT: Okay.
DETECTIVE JERNIGAN: “I’m now going to read you your rights under the law. If you do not understand something that I say to you, please stop me and I will explain it to you. You have the right to remain silent. If you choose to give up this right, anything that you say can be used against you in court. You have the right to talk to a lawyer before you’re asked any questions. You have the right, you have, you have the right to have a lawyer with you while being questioned. If you want a lawyer and can’t afford one, one will be provided to you at some time at no cost.” If at some point in time during our questioning you decide you don’t wanna talk anymore, that’s your right as well. Okay?
THE DEFENDANT: Mm-hmm.
DETECTIVE JERNIGAN: All that make sense to ya?
THE DEFENDANT: Yeah.
DETECTIVE JERNIGAN: All right. So we go through a series of questions here. The first one is you understand what I just, I, I just read to ya?
THE DEFENDANT: Yes.
DETECTIVE JERNIGAN: You’re willing to talk to me at this time without a lawyer?
THE DEFENDANT: Yes.
DETECTIVE JERNIGAN: Okay. I haven’t promised you anything or given you any inducements to talk to me at this time; is that correct?
THE DEFENDANT: Right.
DETECTIVE JERNIGAN: Okay. And you’re not under the influence of any drugs—
THE DEFENDANT: No.
DETECTIVE JERNIGAN:—or alcohol at this time?
THE DEFENDANT: No.
DETECTIVE JERNIGAN: Okay.
THE DEFENDANT: I mean do I need a lawyer or somethin’ or is it, am I just in here for—
DETECTIVE JERNIGAN: Well—
THE DEFENDANT:—questioning? I mean— DETECTIVE JERNIGAN:—if you decide at that, any point in time during our questioning that you feel that that’d be best for you, then you let me know that.. Okay?
THE DEFENDANT: I’m just wonderin’ why it’s asking if I need a lawyer. You know, but anything you guys need to know, I’m willing to help.
DETECTIVE JERNIGAN: Sign there for me, and just note on the bottom below your signature what level of education you have.
(emphasis added). Rush signed the Advice of Rights and Waiver Form, and during the interview made several inculpatory statements which she committed to writing.
She subsequently was indicted on one count of premeditated murder, two counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon, two counts of conspiring to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon, two counts of using a handgun in the commission of a felony or crime of violence, and oné count of first degree assault. Rush timely filed a motion to suppress in which she alleged that her statements were obtained by Detective Jernigan following advisements that did not meet the requirements of
Rush contended that her inculpatory statements were obtained in violation of Miranda v. Arizona,
Conversely, the State argued that Rush was not confused as to her Miranda rights, that she stated that she understood the advisements which were provided orally by Detective Jernigan and which she also read on the Advice of Rights and Waiver Form. The State also contended that Rush’s question “do I need a lawyer?” was not an unambiguous invocation of her right to counsel and that Detective Jernigan’s response of “This is entirely up to you. At any time during our questioning, you feel you need a lawyer, just let me know” was sufficient. The State further argued that Rush’s statements were voluntary.
The hearing judge ruled that Rush’s statements had been obtained in violation of Miranda, due to Detective Jernigan’s insertion of the phrase “at some time” when reciting that a lawyer would be provided if Rush could not afford one. The Court stated that the addition of the phrase “left a false impression that she couldn’t have one now” and therefore violated the dictates of Miranda and that her statement would be suppressed on that ground. The hearing judge specifically noted on the record that he was not granting the motion to suppress on the alternative ground of involuntariness.
The State noted an appeal of the decision to the Court of Special Appeals pursuant to Section 12-303(c)(3) of the Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article, Maryland Code (1974, 2006 RepLVol.). Rush noted what she termed a “cross-appeal,” challenging the circuit court’s ruling that the statements should not be suppressed on the alternative ground that they were involuntary.
The intermediate appellate court held that the circuit court erred by suppressing Rush’s statements on Miranda grounds, applying the standard articulated by the Supreme Court in Duckworth v. Eagan,
[T]he general principle that a reviewing court may uphold the final judgment of a lower court on any ground adequately shown by the record is well-established in Maryland. The legislature created the right of immediate appeal for the State at issue here in order to equalize the opportunities the parties to criminal cases have for meaningful correction of erroneous pretrial evidentiary rulings, made on constitutional grounds---- The legislative goal of equalization is most thoroughly and efficiently accomplished when the general scope of appellate review principle is applied in the State’s immediate appeal as it is in the defendant’s appeal from a final judgement.
Id. at 293,
Thereafter, Rush filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari, and the State filed a Conditional Cross-Petition for Writ of Certioran, both of which we granted. Rush v. State,
II. Discussion
Rush contends that the Court of Special Appeals erred in concluding that Detective Jernigan’s modification of the advisement that Rush had the right to appointed counsel to read “If you want a lawyer and can’t afford one, one will be provided to you at some time at no cost” did not violate the protections afforded by Miranda. She argues that Detective Jernigan’s modification is significantly different from the changes made to the warnings in Duckworth v. Eagan,
Conversely, the State argues that the Supreme Court’s opinions in Prysock and Duckworth have established that modifications to the standard Miranda advisements do not render advisements inadequate that otherwise satisfy the Miranda requirements. The State also rejects Rush’s assertion that the additional language was calculated to elicit a confession and characterizes the lower court’s references to Rush’s education and lack of contact with the police as pertaining to the issue of voluntariness rather than a potential Miranda violation.
In reply to the Cross-Petition question, Rush contends that the Court of Special Appeals correctly addressed the issue of voluntariness, citing Maryland Rule 8-202(e)
A. Miranda Violation
In reviewing a circuit court’s grant or denial of a motion to suppress evidence, we ordinarily consider only the evidence contained in the record of the suppression hearing. State v. Tolbert,
The seminal issue in this case involves the application of Miranda v. Arizona,
The Supreme Court held in Miranda that a recitation of the warnings stated in that opinion, or a “fully effective equivalent,” is a necessary prerequisite to the admissibility of inculpatory statements sought to be introduced as evidence. Id. at 476,
In California v. Prysock,
In its analysis in Prysock, the Court noted that “[o]ther courts considering the precise question presented by this case ... have not required a verbatim recital of the words of the Miranda opinion but rather have examined the warnings given to determine if the reference to the right to appointed counsel was linked with some future point in time after the police interrogation.” Id. at 360,
In 1989, the Court again addressed the impact of modifications to Miranda advisements in Duckworth v. Eagan,
“Before we ask you any questions, you must understand your rights. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can be used against you in court. You have a right to talk to a lawyer for advice before we ask you any questions, and to have him with you during questioning. You have this right to the advice and presence of a lawyer even if you cannot afford to hire one.We have no way of giving you a lawyer, but one will be appointed for you, if you wish, if and when you go to court. If you wish to answer questions now without a lawyer present, you have the right to stop answering questions at any time. You also have the right to stop answering at any time until you’ve talked to a lawyer.”
Id. at 198,
In reversing, the Supreme Court iterated that Miranda warnings do not need to be provided in any exact form: “Reviewing courts therefore need not examine Miranda warnings as if construing a will or defining the terms of an easement. The inquiry is simply whether the warnings reasonably ‘conve[y] to [a suspect] his rights as required by Miranda>’ ” Duckworth,
The Court also clarified its dicta in Prysock,
Since the Supreme Court’s holding in Duckworth, a number of federal and state courts have had the opportunity to explore and apply its requisites. Generally, their holdings posit that modifications of advisements meet the requirements of Miranda so long as the warnings, taken in their totality, adequately convey the essence of that case, that the suspect had the right to remain silent, that anything he said could be used against him in court, that he had the right to speak to an attorney before and during questioning, and that he had he had the right to court appointed counsel if he could not afford private counsel. See Cummings v. Polk,
Conversely, the gravamen of inadequacy of a modification was in omission of one of more of the warnings required by Miranda or a translation into a foreign language that modified in such a way as to no longer communicate the original warnings. See United States v. Street,
In the current case, Rush argues that not only did Detective Jernigan’s modification of the advisement to the right of appointed counsel to read, “If you want a lawyer and can’t afford one, one will be provided to you at some time at no cost,” stray from that which was articulated in Miranda, but it also failed to effectually communicate the mandatory rights because Rush was given the impression that appointed counsel could be present in the future, but not during the questioning that was about to commence. The State argues that the addition of the phrase was meant only to communicate that it would take some time for counsel to be appointed to represent Rush, and that the advisements provided to her both orally and in writing effectively informed her of her right to have counsel present both before and during questioning. The circuit court agreed with Rush, while the Court of Special Appeals agreed with the State.
We agree with the State that Rush’s advisements were adequate under Miranda. She was provided with warnings similar to those reviewed by the Supreme Court in Duck-worth, the advisements given to Rush being:
“I’m now going to read you your rights under the law. If you do not understand something that I say to you, please stop me and I will explain it to you. You have the right to remain silent. If you choose to give up this right, anything that you say can be used against you in court. You have the right to talk to a lawyer before you’re asked any questions. You have the right, you have, you have the right to have a lawyer with you while being questioned. If you want a lawyer and can’t afford one, one will be provided to you at some time at no cost.” If at some point in time during our questioning you decide you don’t wanna talk anymore, that’s your right as well. Okay?
Rush was also provided with an Advice of Rights and Waiver Form which she read, initialed, and signed. The Form stated in pertinent part:
I am now going to read to you your rights under the law. If you do not understand something that I say to you, please stop me, and I will explain it to you.
1. You have the right to remain silent. If you choose to give up this right, anything that you say can be used against you in court.
2. You have the right to talk to a lawyer before you are asked any questionsand to have a lawyer with you while you are being questioned.
3. If you want a lawyer, but cannot afford one, a lawyer "will be provided to you [@ some time][8 ] at no cost.
4. If you want to answer questions now without a lawyer, you still have the right to stop answering questions at any time.
Assessing the totality of the advisements, both oral and written, we conclude that they sufficiently communicated all of the rights required by Miranda. Specifically, Rush was told that she could speak with a lawyer before being questioned and at any time during questioning. The modification of the advisements did not tie her right to counsel to a future event or to her ability to obtain a lawyer herself; rather, as in Duckworth, the modified language only clarified, in a separate advisement, how and when appointed counsel would be provided. Read objectively, the modified language does not suggest, as Rush argues, that appointed counsel could not be present during questioning.
Rush contends, however, that in assessing the adequacy of the warnings we need to look also at the circumstances in which the advisements were made. Specifically, she would have us focus our attention on the intention behind the alteration to the standard advisements, the fact that the advisements were given after some initial questioning had occurred and the likelihood that Rush would be confused by the alteration given her limited education and lack of experience with the police and courts.
Rush cites the plurality opinion in Missouri v. Seibert,
In the present case, Rush, relying upon the plurality’s opinion in Seibert, argues that Detective Jernigan’s posing preliminary questions before advising her of
Rush also contends that her limited education and lack of experience with the criminal justice system are circumstances which caused her to misunderstand the Miranda advisements, based upon the hearing judge’s musings:
But I think that was an inducement. I don’t think it was intentional, but I definitely, in light of all of the circumstances: a person with a 9th grade education; no prior contact with the Court; that’s what I heard from the tape or from the CD.
And that, alone, probably wouldn’t be sufficient for me to suppress the statement, but then you have to take into consideration that when we get to the statement about the lawyer; you couple those two, that’s a violation of Miranda; not a violation of Maryland common law. That’s important, the distinction being made. When the Detective told her that you would get one at some time, that left a false impression that she couldn’t have one now. All she had to do is say, I want one now. We lawyers know that. Lay people don’t. See, that puts an end to it.
While it is true that in determining the voluntariness of a confession we “look to all elements of the interrogation, including the manner in which it was conducted, the number of officers present, and the age, education, and experience of the defendant,” Williams v. State,
Analyzing the advisements provided by Detective Jernigan under the standard articulated by the Supreme Court in Duckworth, we affirm the holding of the Court of Special Appeals that the circuit court erred in ruling that Rush was not sufficiently advised of her rights in accordance with Miranda and in granting the motion to suppress her inculpatory statements on
B. Involuntariness Issue
Rush noted what she termed a “cross-appeal.” The docket entries, however, reflect that Rush’s “Motion [was] Granted,” indicating that the judge granted Rush’s Motion to Suppress in its entirety; additionally, the ruling from the bench is ambiguous:
The Court is required to consider the totality of the circumstances, and in my ruling, I am considering that. Court reviewed the Court’s own docket, or its own file which has in it the Application For Statement of Charges. That’s the information that the Prince George’s County Police had when they got the original warrant for murder.
And so when the Detective told her that was bullshit, that’s exactly what he believed based on the information he had; that she was, in fact, telling him a story that didn’t even come close to what they had already; he told her why.
Court finds that in doing that, he left within her mind the impression that the only way she could be helped would be to tell the truth; ultimately, she did.
But I think that was an inducement. I don’t think it was intentional, but I definitely, in light of all of the circumstances: a person with a 9th grade education; no prior contact with the Court; that’s what I heard from the tape or from the CD.
And that, alone, probably wouldn’t be sufficient for me to suppress the statement, but then you have to take into consideration that when we get to the statement about the lawyer; you couple those two, that’s a violation of Miranda; not a violation of Maryland common law. That’s important, the distinction being made. When the Detective told her that you would get one at some time, that left a false impression that she couldn’t have one now. All she had to do is say, I want one now. We lawyers know that. Lay people don’t. See, that puts an end to it.
So when you take that into consideration, along with the only thing that could help her is to tell the truth, well, it might have helped her in the eyes of the All Mighty, if she so believed, or it might help her morally in her soul, but based on information the Detective had, there was no way that was going to help her, and he had every reason to know that....
The Motion to Suppress, for the reasons stated—
I understand that was a violation of Miranda.
Not a violation of common law.
Although one cannot appeal from a favorable ruling, see Administrator, Motor Vehicle Administration v. Vogt,
In determining whether it had jurisdiction to entertain a defendant’s cross-appeal, the Court of Special Appeals first examined the plain language of Section 12-303(c)(3) of the Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article, the legislative history of the statute, and this Court’s jurisprudence construing authority to hear interlocutory appeals and noted that:
What little direct Maryland precedent there is would seem, therefore, to militate in favor of the most narrow interpretation of the State’s right to appeal a decision to suppress evidence as not including a challenge by the defendant to the court’s unfavorable ruling on an alternative ground.
State v. Rush,
the general principle that a reviewing court may uphold the final judgment of a lower court on any ground adequately shown by the record is well-established in Maryland. The legislature created the right of immediate appeal for the State at issue here in order to equalize the opportunities the parties to criminal cases have for meaningful correction of erroneous pretrial evidentiary rulings, made on constitutional grounds____The legislative goal of equalization is most thoroughly and efficiently accomplished when the general scope of appellate review principle is applied in the State’s immediate appeal as it is in the defendant’s appeal from a final judgement.
Id. at 293,
The State contends that it was error for the intermediate appellate court to consider a defendant’s cross-appeal as Section 12—302(c)(3) of the Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article makes no reference to cross-appeals. The State also contends that the intermediate appellate court’s reliance on federal and Illinois jurisprudence to support its assertion that it has jurisdiction to consider a defendant’s cross-appeal is misplaced because of the significant differences between the federal and Illinois statutes and Section 12-302(c)(3) and its legislative history.
Rush, conversely, argues that the intermediate appellate court did have jurisdiction to consider a cross-appeal under Maryland Rule 8-202(e), which mandates that “[i]f one party files a timely notice of appeal, any other party may file a notice of appeal within ten days.” Rush also contends that judicial time and resources would be wasted if the appellate court were unable to hear the cross-appeal at the same time the State’s appeal is granted.
In analyzing whether an appellate court has jurisdiction to consider a cross-appeal positing alternative grounds for the grant of a motion to suppress, the Court of Special Appeals appropriately began its inquiry by noting that “[i]n Maryland, ‘[a]ppellate jurisdiction is established by “constitutional provisions, statutory provisions, and rules; jurisdiction cannot be
It is well established that “[t]he cardinal rule of statutory construction is to ascertain and effectuate the intent of the Legislature.” Stoddard v. State,
Additionally, we have narrowly construed any grant of appellate authority. In State v. Green,
We have strictly construed the right to appeal in postCardinell cases. See Dvorak v. Anne Arundel County Ethics Commission,
A general grant of appellate jurisdiction is provided in Sections 12-301
(3)(i) In a case involving a crime of violence as defined in § 14-101 of the Criminal Law Article, and in cases under §§ 5-602 through 5-609 and §§ 5-612 through 5-614 of the Criminal Law Article, the State may appeal from a decision of a trial court that excludes evidence offered by the State or requires the return of property alleged to have been seized in violation of the Constitution of the United States, the Maryland Constitution, or the Maryland Declaration of Rights.
(ii) The appeal shall be made before jeopardy attaches to the defendant. However, in all cases the appeal shall be taken no more than 15 days after the decision has been rendered and shall be diligently prosecuted.
(iii) Before taking the appeal, the State shall certify to the court that the appeal is not taken for purposes of delay and that the evidence excluded or the property required to be returned is substantial proof of a material fact in the proceeding. The appeal shall be heard and the decision rendered within 120 days of the time that the record on appeal is filed in the appellate court. Otherwise, the decision of the trial court shall be final.
(iv) Except in a homicide case, if the State appeals on the basis of this paragraph, and if on final appeal the decision of the trial court is affirmed, the charges against the defendant shall be dismissed in the case from which the appeal was taken. In that case, the State may not prosecute the defendant on those specific charges or on any other related charges arising out of the same incident.
Section 12—302(c)(3) does not confer appellate jurisdiction to hear a defendant’s cross-appeal. Rather, the statute clearly limits the right to appeal from an interlocutory order to the State; the defendant is free to appeal from the final judgment. The statute also expressly links the State’s right to appeal to certain restrictions inapplicable to defendants, such as “[t]he appeal shall be made before jeopardy attaches” and “the State shall certify to the court that the appeal is not taken for purposes of delay.”
Where the defendant has been given a specific right to appeal in addition to the right to appeal from final judgments, the Legislature has been specific in protecting that right. For example, Section 12-401 of the Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article, in addressing the right to appeal a decision of the District Court in criminal cases, specifies that:
(b) Criminal cases.—In a criminal case:
(1) The State may appeal from a final judgment entered in the District Court:
(i) If tlie State alleges that the trial judge failed to impose the sentence specifically mandated by the Code; or
(ii) Granting a motion to dismiss, or quashing or dismissing a charging document.
(2) The defendant may appeal even from a final judgment entered in the District Court though imposition or execution of sentence has been suspended.
(emphasis added).
Further, contrary to Rush’s contention, Section 12-301 of the Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article and Maryland Rule 8-202(e) do not create any ambiguity. We have held previously that when provisions of Section 12-302 are in conflict with the general grant of appellate jurisdiction provided by Section 12-301, the more specific Section 12-302 provisions will control. In Gisriel v. Ocean City Board of Supervisors of Elections,
Maryland Rule 8-202(e) which states that “[i]f one party files a timely notice of appeal, any other party may file a notice of appeal within ten days after the date on which the first notice of appeal was filed or within any longer time otherwise allowed by this Rule,” can also be read with Section 12-302(c) without engendering any conflict or ambiguity, as Rule 8-202 specifically refers to times for filing a notice of appeal and does not grant or limit jurisdiction.
Although Rush could not file a “cross-appeal,” she was entitled to raise the voluntariness issue in the State’s appeal, in order to defend the suppression ruling on an alternative ground raised by Rush and ruled on by the hearing judge. See Robeson v. State,
the Circuit Court, although presented with argument concerning in rem jurisdiction and bad faith, did not specifically address the contentions. Therefore, because there is a dearth of necessary factual detail in the record regarding these contentions, we will not affirm theCircuit Court’s decision on those grounds.
Id. at 434,
The Court of Special Appeals concluded that the record was adequate for it to rule on the issue of involuntariness, in a decision directly opposite to that of the trial court, based upon its review of the transcript of Detective Jernigan’s interview of Rush and reflected that her inculpatory statements were obtained through inducements. Rush,
JUDGMENT OF THE COURT OF SPECIAL APPEALS AFFIRMED AS TO MIRANDA ISSUE AND REVERSED AS TO VOLUNTARINESS ISSUE; CASE REMANDED TO THAT COURT WITH INSTRUCTIONS TO DISMISS APPEAL OF PETITIONER RUSH, REVERSE SUPPRESSION ORDER OF THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY, AND REMAND TO THAT COURT FOR FURTHER PROCEEDINGS; COSTS IN THE COURT OF SPECIAL APPEALS AND THIS COURT TO BE PAID BY PETITIONER.
RAKER, J., concurs and dissents.
BELL, C.J., and GREENE, J, dissent.
Notes
. Section 12-302(c)(3) of the Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article, Maryland Code (1974, 2006 Repl.VoL), states in relevant part:
(3)(i) In a case involving a crime of violence as defined in § 14-101 of the Criminal Law Article, and in cases under §§ 5-602 through 5-609 and §§ 5-612 through 5-614 of the Criminal Law Article, the State may appeal from a decision of a trial court that excludes evidence offered by the State or requires the return of property alleged to have been seized in violation of the Constitution of the United States, the Maryland Constitution, or the Maryland Declaration of Rights.
(ii) The appeal shall be made before jeopardy attaches to the defendant. However, in all cases the appeal shall be taken no more than 15 days after the decision has been rendered and shall be diligently prosecuted.
(iii) Before taking the appeal, the State shall certify to the court that the appeal is not taken for purposes of delay and that the evidence excluded or the property required to be returned is substantial proof of a material fact in the proceeding. The appeal shall be heard and the decision rendered within 120 days of the time that the record on appeal is filed in the appellate court. Otherwise, the decision of the trial court shall be final.
(iv) Except in a homicide case, if the State appeals on the basis of this paragraph, and if on final appeal the decision of the trial court is affirmed, the charges against the defendant shall be dismissed in the case from which the appeal was taken. In that case, the State may not prosecute the defendant on those specific charges or on any other related charges arising out of the same incident.
. As we shall hold that the Court of Special Appeals lacked jurisdiction to consider Rush’s interlocutory cross-appeal, we will not address the State’s second question.
. According to the transcription of the recording, the interview began at 6:27 p.m. and concluded at 10:23 p.m. At 9:12 p.m. Rush was offered food, which she declined.
. In Miranda v. Arizona,
. Maryland Rule 8-202(e) states:
(e) Appeals by other party—Within ten days. If one party files a timely notice of appeal, any other party may file a notice of appeal within ten days after the date on which the first notice of appeal was filed or within any longer time otherwise allowed by this Rule.
. See Custodial Interrogations, 34 Geo. LJ. Ann. Rev.Crim. Proc. 3 (2005), for additional post-Duckworth holdings.
. Rush cites to United States v. Connell,
. The addition indicated by the brackets was handwritten on the form.
. While we concluded that Detective Jernigan’s modification of the standard advisements did not violate Miranda, we would discourage deviation from the standard form, as modifications have the potential to render such advisements inadequate.
. Section 12-301 of the Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article Maryland Code (1974, 2006 Repl.Vol.) states:
Except as provided in § 12-302 of this subtitle, a party may appeal from a final judgment entered in a civil or criminal case by a circuit court. The right of appeal exists from a final judgment entered by a court in the exercise of original, special, limited, statutory jurisdiction, unless in a particular case the right of appeal is expressly denied by law. In a criminal case, the defendant may appeal even though imposition or execution of sentence has been suspended. In a civil case, a plaintiff who has accepted a remittitur may cross-appeal from the final judgment.
. Section 12-308 of the Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article Maryland Code (1974, 2006 Repl.Vol.) states:
Except as provided in § 12-307 of this subtitle, the Court of Special Appeals has exclusive initial appellate jurisdiction over any reviewable judgment, decree, order or other action of a circuit court, and an orphans' court.
. See also Section 12-301 of the Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article, Maryland Code (1974, 2006 Repl.VoL), stating in pertinent part:
In a criminal case, the defendant may appeal even though imposition or execution of sentence has been suspended.
. Section 12-303 of the Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article, Maryland Code (1974, 2006 Repl.VoL), states in pertinent part:
A party may appeal from any of the following interlocutory orders entered by a circuit court in a civil case....
(emphasis added).
. Section 12-304(a) of the Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article, Maryland Code (1974, 2006 Repl.VoL), states:
(a) Scope of review.—Any person may appeal from any order or judgment passed to preserve the power or vindicate the dignity of the court and adjudging him in contempt of court, including an interlocutory order, remedial in nature, adjudging any person in contempt, whether or not a party to the action.
(emphasis added).
. It would be advisable for a trial judge in a similar situation to rule specifically on each ground presented in a motion to suppress.
Concurrence Opinion
concurring and dissenting:
I join in Part II. A. of the opinion of the Court affirming the holding of the Court of Special Appeals that the Circuit Court erred in ruling that Rush was not sufficiently advised of her rights in accordance with Miranda, and in granting the motion to suppress her inculpatory statements on that ground. In other words, the Miranda warnings were constitutionally adequate.
I dissent from the majority’s ruling on the involuntariness issue. I agree with the State that Rush cannot appeal the Circuit Court’s finding that portions of her statement were voluntary. The ruling was interlocutory, and because there exists no statute or right to appeal such an order, her claim may be raised in an appeal from a final judgment, and not within the State’s appeal.
BELL, C.J., dissenting, in which GREENE, J. joins.
In Miranda v. Arizona,
“the prosecution may not use statements, whether exculpatory or inculpatory, stemming from custodial interrogation of the defendant unless it demonstrates the use of procedural safeguards effective to secure the privilege against self-incrimination. By custodial interrogation, we mean questioning initiated bylaw enforcement officers after a person has been taken into custody or otherwise deprived of his freedom of action in any significant way.... As for the procedural safeguards to be employed, unless other fully effective means are devised to inform accused persons of their right of silence and to assure a continuous opportunity to exercise it, the following measures are required. Prior to any questioning, the person must be warned that he has a right to remain silent, that any statement he does make may be used as evidence against him, and that he has a right to the presence of an attorney, either retained or appointed. The defendant may waive effectuation of these rights, provided the waiver is made voluntarily, knowingly and intelligently. If, however, he indicates in any manner and at any stage of the process that he wishes to consult with an attorney before speaking there can be no questioning. Likewise, if the individual is alone and indicates in any manner that he does not wish to be interrogated, the police may not question him. The mere fact that he may have answered some questions or volunteered some statements on his own does not deprive him of the right to refrain from answering any further inquiries until he has consulted with an attorney and thereafter consents to be questioned.”
Id. at 444-445,
“concluded that without proper safeguards the process of in-custody interrogation of persons suspected or accused of crime contains inherently compelling pressures which work to undermine the individual’s "will to resist and to compel him to speak where he would not otherwise do so freely. In order to combat these pressures and to permit a full opportunity to exercise the privilege against self-incrimination, the accused must be adequately and effectively apprised of his rights and the exercise of those rights must be fully honored.”
Id. at 467,
Having identified the rights of which a custodial defendant must be apprised, the Court explained the rationale underlying each:
“At the outset, if a person in custody is to be subjected to interrogation, he must first be informed in clear and unequivocal terms that he has the right to remain silent. For those unaware of the privilege, the warning is needed simply to make them aware of it-the threshold requirement for an intelligent decision as to its exercise. More important, such a warning is an absolute prerequisite in overcoming the inherent pressures of the interrogation atmosphere. It is not just the subnormal or woefully ignorant who succumb to an interrogator’s imprecations, whether implied or expressly stated, that the interrogation will continue until a confession is obtained or that silence in the face of accusation is itselfdamning and will bode ill when presented to a jury____Further, the warning will show the individual that his interrogators are prepared to recognize his privilege should he choose to exercise it.
“The Fifth Amendment privilege is so fundamental to our system of constitutional rule and the expedient of giving an adequate warning as to the availability of the privilege so simple, we will not pause to inquire in individual cases whether the defendant was aware of his rights without a warning being given. Assessments of the knowledge the defendant possessed, based on information as to his age, education, intelligence, or prior contact with authorities, can never be more than speculation; ... a warning is a clear cut fact. More important, whatever the background of the person interrogated, a warning at the time of the interrogation is indispensable to overcome its pressures and to insure that the individual knows he is free to exercise the privilege at that point in time.
“The warning of the right to remain silent must be accompanied by the explanation that anything said can and will be used against the individual in court. This warning is needed in order to make him aware not only of the privilege, but also of the consequences of forgoing it. It is only through an awareness of these consequences that there can be any assurance of real understanding and intelligent exercise of the privilege. Moreover, this warning may serve to make the individual more acutely aware that he is faced with a phase of the adversary system-that he is not in the presence of persons acting solely in his interest.
“The circumstances surrounding in-custody interrogation can operate very quickly to overbear the will of one merely made aware of his privilege by his interrogators. Therefore, the right to have counsel present at the interrogation is indispensable to the protection of the Fifth Amendment privilege under the system we delineate today. Our aim is to assure that the individual’s right to choose between silence and speech remains unfettered throughout the interrogation process. A once-stated warning, delivered by those who will conduct the interrogation, cannot itself suffice to that end among those who most require knowledge of their rights. A mere warning given by the interrogators is not alone sufficient to accomplish that end. Prosecutors themselves claim that the admonishment of the right to remain silent without more ‘will benefit only the recidivist and the professional.’ Brief for the National District Attorneys Association as amicus curiae, p. 14. Even preliminary advice given to the accused by his own attorney can be swiftly overcome by the secret interrogation process. Cf. Escobedo v. State of Illinois,378 U.S. 478 , 485, n. 5,84 S.Ct. 1758 , 1762[,12 L.Ed.2d 977 (1964) ]. Thus, the need for counsel to protect the Fifth Amendment privilege comprehends not merely a right to consult with counsel prior to questioning, but also to have counsel present during any questioning if the defendant so desires.
“The presence of counsel at the interrogation may serve several significant subsidiary functions as well. If the accused decides to talk to his interrogators, the assistance of counsel can mitigate the dangers of untrustworthiness. With a lawyer present the likelihood that the police will practice coercion is reduced, and if coercion is nevertheless exercised the lawyer can testify to it in court. The presence of a lawyer can also help to guarantee that the accused gives afully accurate statement to the police and that the statement is rightly reported by the prosecution at trial. See Crooker v. State of California, 357 U.S. 433 , 443-448,78 S.Ct. 1287 , 1293-1296,2 L.Ed.2d 1448 (1958) (Douglas, J., dissenting).”
Miranda,
“In order fully to apprise a person interrogated of the extent of his rights ..., it is necessary to warn him not only that he has the right to consult with an attorney, but also that if he is indigent a lawyer will be appointed to represent him. Without this additional warning, the admonition of the right to consult with counsel would often be understood as meaning only that he can consult with a lawyer if he has one or has the funds to obtain one. The warning of a right to counsel would be hollow if not couched in terms that would convey to the indigent-the person most often subjected to interrogation-the knowledge that he too has a right to have counsel present. As with the warning of the right to remain silent and of the general right to counsel, only by effective and express explanation to the indigent of this right can there be assurance that he was truly in a position to exercise it.”
Id. at 473,
The importance of, indeed, the necessity for, the requirement that a defendant be informed explicitly of his or her right to have counsel present both before and during questioning was underscored by the Court and made manifest when it admonished that “[n]o amount of circumstantial evidence that the person may have been aware of this right will suffice to stand in its stead. Only through such a warning is there ascertainable assurance that the accused was aware of this right.” Id. at 471-72,
“[t]he financial ability of the individual has no relationship to the scope of the rights involved here. The privilege against self-incrimination secured by the Constitution applies to all individuals. The need for counsel in order to protect the privilege exists for the indigent, as well as the affluent. In fact, were we to limit these constitutional rights to those who can retain an attorney, our decisions today would be of little significance.”
Id. at 472,
The majority holds today that the Miranda warnings given the petitioner in this case satisfies the Miranda requirements here in before reviewed.
Rather than being read the Advice of Rights and Waiver Form, the petitioner was given warnings that were modified by the interrogating detective. As modified, the warnings given advised that if the petitioner wanted a lawyer and could not afford to hire one, counsel would be provided her at no cost, “at some time.” The latter phrase was added by the detective. In addition, rather than informing the petitioner in accordance with the last sentence of the Form, which acknowledged the petitioner’s right to elect to proceed with questioning without counsel, the detective amended the sentence to omit any reference to the petitioner’s right of election.
Acknowledging that the goal of its review of the advisements given is to determine whether the petitioner’s rights under Miranda were adequately preserved, the majority purports to have “[a]ssess[ed] the totality of the advisements, both oral and written,” for that purpose. Rush,
The majority is right, of course, its interpretation of the advisements is a plausible one all of the requirements were mentioned and, thus, all the bases were touched. It cannot be disputed that, superficially and technically, Rush was told she could speak with a lawyer before and during questioning. The trouble with the majority’s analysis is that the question it answers is the wrong one. It is not the question whether all of the requirements were mentioned or whether one interpretation is to be preferred over another; rather, the question is whether the advice given was sufficiently clear and unambiguous as to enable the defendant, voluntarily, knowingly, and intelligently, to waive her Miranda rights. It is important to consider the advisements both in toto and in context. In that regard, it is significant that, immediately after being told of the right to have counsel before and during questioning, the petitioner was told that if she could not afford a lawyer, she would be appointed one “at some time,” not prior to the commencement of questioning. The petitioner could have, and probably did,
“What goes wholly overlooked in [the majority’s] analysis is that the recipients of police warnings are often frightened suspects unlettered in the law, not lawyers or judges or others schooled in interpreting legal or semantic nuance. Such suspects can hardly be expected to interpret, in as facile a manner as [the majority], the pretzel-like warnings here-intertwining, contradictory, and ambiguous as they are.”
(quoting Commonwealth v. Johnson,
Miranda mandates that, before an accused may be subjected to custodial interrogation, he or she must be “adequately and effectively apprised of his [or her] rights against self-incrimination,”
“[t]he warning of a right to counsel would be hollow if not couched in terms that would convey to the indigent—the person most often subjected to interrogation-the knowledge that he too has a right to have counsel present----[0]nly by effective and express explanation to the indigent of this right can there be assurance that he was truly in a position to exercise it.”
Miranda,
I dissent. Judge Greene joins in the views expressed herein.
. As relevant, the interrogation proceeded:
"DETECTIVE JERNIGAN: All right. Well, let’s get the formalities out of the way.
"RUSH: Okay.
"DETECTIVE JERNIGAN: Need anything to drink or anything or— "RUSH: No. I’m okay.
"DETECTIVE JERNIGAN: Okay.
"RUSH: Actually, I was wonderin’, I don’t know why I’m even here. The detective, police showed up at my door and arrested me, said I had a warrant.
"DETECTIVE JERNIGAN: Okay. Cindi, how far'd ya get in school? "RUSH: Ninth grade.
"DETECTIVE JERNIGAN: Do you know how to read?
"RUSH: Yeah, I’ve taken GED classes and I just haven’t been able to go take the test. I'm very (unintelligible). I have my CNA license and everything.
"DETECTIVE JERNIGAN: Okay. All right. Just to prove to me that you know how to read—
"RUSH: Mm-hmm.
"DETECTIVE JERNIGAN:—I’m going to let you read a portion of this statement for me, okay?
"RUSH: Okay.
"DETECTIVE JERNIGAN: Can you move that chair on up? Read this first sentence—
"RUSH: Mm-hmm.
"DETECTIVE JERNIGAN:—on the top line for me.
“RUSH: 'I am now going to read to you your rights under the law.' "DETECTIVE JERNIGAN: Very good. All right. I’m gonna read the rest to you out loud and then we'll go over it together, okay? "RUSH: Okay.
"DETECTIVE JERNIGAN: 'I'm now going to read you your rights under the law. If you do not understand something that I say to you, please stop me and I will explain it to you. You have the right to remain silent. If you choose to give up this right, anything that you say can be used against you in court. You have the right to talk to a lawyer before you’re asked any questions. You have the right, you, you have the right to have a lawyer with you while being questioned. If you want a lawyer and can’t afford one, one will be provided to you at some time at no cost. If at some point in time during our questioning you decide you don't wanna talk anymore, that’s your right as well.' Okay?
A short time later, Rush signed an Advice of Rights and Waiver Form, the contents of which, though similar, differed from the Detective's oral advisements in significant ways. Instead of 'If at some point in time during our questioning you decide you don't wanna talk anymore, that's your right as well,’ the last sentence of the Form reads ‘If you want to answer questions now without a lawyer, you still have the right to stop answering questions at any time.’ The Form, which was typed, included a handwritten insertion of the phrase some time[.]”
. That sentence read: “If you want to answer questions now without a lawyer, you still have the right to stop answering questions at any time.” As phrased by the detective, it informed the petitioner, “[i]f at some point in time during our questioning you decide you don’t wanna talk anymore, that’s your right as well,” in effect assuming that the questioning without counsel would proceed.
