Miranda rule
- noun
- /mɪˈrændə ruːl/
- Formal
:
regla Miranda
- The Miranda rule ensures that defendants are aware of their right to remain silent during interrogations.
Examples
-
Police must inform suspects of their rights under the Miranda rule before any questioning.
-
However, before I tell how, I will discuss the development of the Miranda rule under the California Constitution.
Academic text (1993) -
When White took office, the Warren Court's criminal procedure revolution was underway, but the Miranda rule on police interrogations was four years in the future.
Academic text (1993) -
Consequently, under Harris, statements taken in violation of the Miranda rule can come into the courtroom through the back door during cross-examination of the accused.
Academic text (1993) -
Failure to follow the Miranda rule can lead to any statements made by a suspect being inadmissible in court.
Synonyms
3
4.7
A short statement police say to someone they arrest to tell them their rights before questioning
Surface Forms
Morphology
Miranda + rule
This is a named legal doctrine referencing a specific court decision (Miranda) and its associated rights warning; a B1 learner knowing only the proper name 'Miranda' and the noun 'rule' would not be able to infer the specialized meaning. Understanding the expression requires cultural/legal background knowledge rather than compositional interpretation, so the phrase is lexicalized and opaque to learners without prior exposure.
Etymology
Miranda rule comes from a famous court case about a man named Miranda who was questioned by police without being told his rights. Judges said police must warn arrested people of their 'right to remain silent' and to 'have a lawyer', so today Miranda rule means police must give that warning before questioning.