Moran v. Burbine

After arresting Brian Burbine (defendant) for burglary, police realized he was also a murder suspect; unbeknownst to Burbine, his sister arranged a lawyer for the burglary charge, and that lawyer called the police station and was falsely assured Burbine would not be questioned or put in a lineup that evening, with police never mentioning the murder investigation to her. Shortly after that call, police interviewed Burbine about the murder, properly issuing Miranda warnings each time; Burbine, unaware his sister had retained a lawyer or that the lawyer had called, signed three written Miranda waivers and confessed in writing three times. His motion to suppress the confessions was denied, he was convicted, and after his conviction was reversed by the First Circuit on habeas review, the Supreme Court granted certiorari.