Text of today’s opinion

The Court released a single, unanimous decision this morning in Maryland v. Shatzer (08-680), reversing and remanding the lower court. The majority opinion, written by Justice Scalia, is available here.  Justice Thomas wrote a separate opinion concurring in part and concurring in the judgment, while Justice Stevens wrote an opinion concurring in the judgment.

Holding: The full Court recognizes an exception to the 1981 decision in Edwards v. Arizona and now establishes that a “break in custody” permits the police to resume questioning a suspect who had previously asked for a lawyer. Furthermore, seven members of the Court agree that if the break in custody lasts more than two weeks between interrogations, the Edwards decision does not apply to suppress a confession. Justices Stevens and Thomas do not join the fourteen-day rule in their concurrences.

The full text of the opinion follows the jump.

No. 08-680, Maryland v. Shatzer