Florida's Miranda Warnings Pass Supreme Court Scrutiny: Associated Press writer Jesse J. Holland reports on today's Supreme Court decision approving Florida's version of the Miranda rights warnings.  The court's 7-2 decision in Florida v. Powell restored Kevin Dwayne Powell's conviction in the first of three Miranda rights cases heard this year.  The decision clarified what the long-established Miranda rights require police to do. Powell was convicted of illegally possessing a firearm after telling police he bought the weapon "off the street" for personal protection.  Before his confession, Powell signed a Miranda statement that included the words, "You have the right to talk to a lawyer before answering any of our questions.  If you cannot afford to hire a lawyer, one will be appointed for you without cost and before any questioning.  You have the right to use any of these rights at any time you want during this interview."  The Florida Supreme Court overturned Powell's conviction, saying police did not explicitly tell him he had a right to a lawyer during his interrogation.  "Nothing in the words used indicated that counsel's presence would be restricted after the after the questioning commenced," Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said, writing for the majority. "Instead, the warning communicated that the right to counsel carried forward to and through the interrogation." The Court has two more Miranda rights cases pending, including whether officers can interrogate a suspect who said he understood his rights but did not invoke them, and whether a request for a lawyer during interrogation can expire after a lengthy period of time.  The Foundation has entered both of these cases.  Our brief addressing the invocation issue in Berghuis v. Thompkins is available here.  The brief for the second case, Maryland v. Shatzer, is available here.  Lauren's post on the issue can be found here.

"NYC bomb plotter deal might help broaden case":  Associated Press writers Adam Goldman and Tom Hays report on a plea deal prosecutors are making with a NYC bomb plotter, Najibullah Zazi.  Zazi, who once worked as a Colorado airport shuttle driver, admitted to being persuaded by al-Qaida and to work for the Taliban.  "I had discussions with al-Qaida leaders, including target locations, such as New York City subways," Zazi confessed.  Zazi pleaded guilty in Brooklyn federal court and is facing LWOP.  Now, Zazi has been presented with a plea deal, and has begun to release information regarding Al-Qaida.  Prosecutors hope that with Zazi's cooperation, other suspects will come to light.