Kuhlmann v. Wilson
United States Supreme Court
477 U.S. 436 (1986)
After Wilson (defendant) was arraigned for robbery and murder, a police informant was placed in his cell overlooking the crime scene, instructed only to listen for the names of other participants and not to ask questions. After an upsetting visit from his brother, Wilson made incriminating statements the informant then reported to police; Wilson's motion to suppress those statements was denied, and he was convicted and sentenced. After the ruling in United States v. Henry addressed a similar informant scenario, Wilson again sought habeas relief, and the court of appeals granted his petition based on Henry, prompting the Supreme Court to grant certiorari.
Whether the Sixth Amendment requires suppression of statements made by a prisoner to a covert police informant if the informant only listened passively and did not attempt to interrogate the prisoner.