You have the right to remain silent? Not any more, you don't. According to a case decided by the Supreme Court recently, it does not violate your Fifth Amendment rights even to be interrogated while near death from grievous injuries while in a hospital awaiting immediate surgery.
The Fresno Bee reports this gem from the totally off-the-rails Supreme Court, which is now apparently a fascist tribunal solely existing to justify the complete abandonment of the Constitution by any tortured abuse of logic imaginable.
From the dissent of Justice Anthony M. Kennedy:
This is no small matter. To tell our whole legal system that, when conducting a criminal investigation, police officers can use severe compulsion, even torture, with no present violation of the right against compelled self-incrimination can only diminish a celebrated provision in the Bill of Rights," Kennedy wrote. "A Constitution survives over time because the people share a common, historic commitment to certain simple but fundamental principles which preserve their freedom. Today's decision undermines one of those respected precepts.
The entire text of this travesty is available from Cornell CHAVEZ V. MARTINEZ (01-1444) 270 F.3d 852, reversed and remanded.
Here is Kennedy's dissent.
Justice Stevens' dissent opens with a transcript of the torture session which the Supreme Court, under the fascist sway of Scalia, Rehnquist and Thomas, thinks is consistent with the protections of the Fifth Amendment. While this troika behaved in a completely predictable manner, O'Connor and Souter should be ashamed of themselves for undermining the foundation of the country.
Posted by muldrake at June 1, 2003 02:26 PM
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