Supreme Court of the United States
Pinto, Prison Farm Superintendent v. Pierce
October 23, 1967389 U.S. 31
Summary
The Supreme Court reversed the district court’s grant of habeas relief, holding that a voluntariness hearing may be conducted in the presence of the jury when the defendant’s counsel does not object and the trial judge finds the statement voluntary, and remanded with instructions to dismiss the petition. Justice Fortas, in a concurring opinion, agreed with the result but argued that the jury’s independent judgment of voluntariness should be preserved.
Holding
- Whether a voluntariness hearing held in the presence of the jury, without objection from defense counsel, violates the respondent’s constitutional rights.. Such a hearing does not violate the Constitution when defense counsel consents and the trial judge finds the confession voluntary.
- Whether the district court’s grant of a writ of habeas corpus was proper under the Constitution.. The writ is denied; the district court’s judgment is reversed and the case remanded for dismissal of the habeas petition.
Docket 284