Fla. Justices Weaken Miranda Warning Requirements
TALLAHASSEE (CBS4)-- The Florida Supreme Court said police don't need to explicitly tell suspects they can have a lawyer with them when being questioned.
Thursday's decision on Miranda warnings in a pair of opinions follows the U.S. Supreme Court's lead in both cases.
The federal justices ruled in one case that warning suspects they have a right to talk to a lawyer before questioning and can use their rights any time during their interviews is sufficient under the U.S. Constitution.
The Florida justices ruled that warning also complies with the state constitution in upholding a Tampa firearms possession conviction.
They also approved a Polk County warning that only said a suspect has a right to a lawyer before questioning.
That decision restored Thomas Rigterink's two murder convictions and death sentence.
(© 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
