Brewer v. Williams 430 U.S. 378 (1977)
BREWER v. WILLIAMS 430 U.S. 378 (1977)
This highly publicized case produced three concurring and three dissenting opinions and Justice potter stewart's opinion for a 5–4 majority. Williams, who had kidnapped and murdered a child, was being transported by police who had read the miranda rules to him. But the police played on his religious beliefs. Although they had agreed not to interrogate him and he had declared that he wanted the assistance of counsel and would tell his story on seeing his counsel, a detective convinced him to show where he had buried the body so that the child could have a Christian burial. The Court reversed his conviction, ruling that the use of evidence relating to or resulting from his incriminating statements violated his right of counsel once adversary proceedings against him had begun, and he had not waived his right.
(See nix v. williams.)
Leonard W. Levy
(1986)