State of New Jersey, Plaintiff-Appellant v. Kristina Burris, A/K/A Kristina Carolyn Burris, Defendant-Respondent

Summary

The Supreme Court of New Jersey held that statements obtained after a defendant invoked her Fifth Amendment right to counsel may be admitted for the limited purpose of impeaching the defendant’s credibility if the statements are voluntary and trustworthy, thereby reversing the Appellate Division’s reversal of the murder and firearm convictions. Justice STEIN, concurring in part and dissenting in part, argued the statements were not voluntary but deemed their use harmless.