thompson keohane argued october decided november session alaska state trooper headquarters petitioner thompson confessed killed former wife thompson maintained troopers gained confession without according warnings required miranda arizona alaska trial denied motion suppress confession however ruling custody miranda purposes therefore troopers required inform miranda rights trial prosecution played confession jury found thompson guilty murder appeals alaska affirmed conviction federal district denied thompson petition writ habeas corpus ninth circuit affirmed courts held state ruling defendant custody miranda purposes qualifies fact determination entitled presumption correctness held custody rulings made determine whether miranda warnings due qualify presumption correctness rulings resolve factual issue instead resolve mixed questions law fact therefore warrant independent review federal habeas pp section declares federal habeas proceeding instituted person custody pursuant judgment state determination factual issue ordinarily shall presumed correct held basic primary historical facts factual issue statutory presumption correctness dominantly relates see page ii miller fenton nonetheless proper characterization question one fact law sometimes slippery two lines decisions compose jurisprudence several cases classified factual issues within compass questions extending beyond determination happened resolution issues involved cases notably competency stand trial juror impartiality depends heavily trial superior ability appraise witness credibility demeanor hand recognized uniquely legal dimension presented issues voluntariness confession effectiveness counsel assistance ranked questions law purposes happened determinations cases warrant presumption correctness ultimate question declared remains outside domain matter independent federal determination ibid pp ultimate custody determination miranda purposes fits within latter class cases two discrete inquiries essential determination whether formal arrest restraint freedom movement degree associated formal arrest california beheler first inquiry circumstances surrounded interrogation distinctly factual findings response inquiry attract presumption correctness second inquiry reasonable person felt liberty terminate interrogation leave calls application controlling legal standard historical facts thus presents mixed question law fact qualifying independent review practical considerations prompted type questions like juror bias competency stand trial factual issue dominate custody inquiries inquiries trial superior capacity resolve credibility issues foremost factor notably absent trial purview vantage whether defendant interrogated situated custody miranda purposes thus historical facts resolved state appreciably better position federal habeas make ultimate determination consistency law enforcement officer conduct federal miranda warning requirement furthermore classifying custody determination qualifying independent review serve legitimate law enforcement interests effectively serves insure protection right page iii decisions bear law declaration aspect independent review potentially may guide police unify precedent stabilize law pp ginsburg delivered opinion stevens scalia kennedy souter breyer joined thomas filed dissenting opinion rehnquist joined thompson keohane justice ginsburg delivered opinion session alaska state trooper headquarters petitioner carl thompson confessed killed former wife thompson confession placed evidence ensuing alaska trial convicted murder challenging conviction federal habeas corpus proceeding thompson maintained alaska troopers gained confession without according warnings miranda arizona requires remain silent anything said used entitled attorney either retained appointed miranda warnings due suspect interrogated police custody state trial appellate courts determined thompson custody confessed statute governing federal habeas corpus proceedings directs ordinarily fact findings shall presumed correct question whether determination thompson custody confessed finding fact warranting presumption thompson keohane correctness matter law calling independent review federal hold issue whether suspect custody therefore entitled miranda warnings presents mixed question law fact qualifying independent review september two moose hunters discovered body dead woman floating gravel pit lake outskirts fairbanks alaska woman stabbed times notified hunters alaska state troopers issued press release seeking assistance identifying body thompson called troopers september inform former wife dixie thompson fit description press release missing month dental examination troopers conclusively established corpse dixie thompson september trooper called thompson asked come headquarters purportedly identify personal items troopers thought belonged dixie thompson undisputed however trooper primary reason contacting thompson question murder thompson drove troopers headquarters pickup truck upon arriving immediately identified items dixie remained headquarters however two hours two unarmed troopers continuously questioned small interview room exchange troopers inform thompson miranda rights although constantly assured thompson free leave also told repeatedly knew killed former wife informing thompson execution search warrant underway home truck searched pursuant thompson keohane another warrant troopers asked questions invited confession app eventually thompson thompson keohane told troopers killed dixie promised troopers permitted thompson leave impounded truck left without transportation thompson accepted troopers offer ride friend house two hours later troopers arrested thompson charged murder alaska trial without holding evidentiary hearing denied thompson motion suppress september statements tr tr mar deciding motion papers submitted trial ruled thompson custody miranda purposes therefore troopers obligation inform miranda rights app applying objective test resolve thompson keohane custody question asked whether reasonable person feel free leave break police questioning quoting hunter state alaska features indicated key thompson arrived station response trooper request two unarmed troopers plain clothes questioned thompson told free go time arrested conclusion interrogation app although trial held totality circumstances reasonable person felt free leave also observed troopers subsequent actions releasing shortly thereafter arresting thompson rendered question close trial prosecution played confession jury found thompson guilty murder tampering evidence appeals alaska affirmed thompson conviction concluding among things troopers placed thompson custody therefore obligation give miranda warnings thompson state alaska app alaska denied discretionary review app thompson filed petition writ habeas corpus district district thompson keohane alaska district denied writ according presumption correctness state conclusion thompson confessed yet custody miranda purposes app appeals ninth circuit affirmed without publishing opinion based circuit precedent held state determination defendant custody purposes miranda question fact entitled presumption correctness app federal courts appeals disagree issue thompson asks us resolve whether custody determinations matters fact entitled presumption correctness mixed questions law fact warranting independent review federal habeas compare feltrop delo applying presumption correctness jacobs singletary conducting independent review uniformity among federal courts important questions order granted certiorari end division authority hold presumption apply custody rulings accordingly vacate ninth circuit judgment ii interrogation recognized miranda arizona place inherently compelling pressures persons interrogated safeguard uncounseled individual fifth thompson keohane amendment privilege miranda held suspects interrogated police custody must told right remain silent anything say may used entitled presence attorney either retained appointed interrogation defined custodial interrogation questioning initiated law enforcement officers person taken custody otherwise deprived freedom action significant way ibid see also oregon mathiason per curiam duty give miranda warnings triggered restriction person freedom render custody quoted stansbury california per curiam slip task petitioner thompson case identify standard governing federal habeas courts review custody determinations section governs federal habeas corpus proceedings instituted persons custody pursuant judgment state proceedings declares determinations factual issue shall presumed correct absent one enumerated exceptions thompson keohane provision added amendment act pub stat received close attention miller fenton thompson keohane miller observed almost verbatim codification standards delineated townsend sain determining district must hold evidentiary hearing acting habeas petition miller townsend counseled habeas petitioner state full fair hearing resulting reliable findings federal ordinarily accept facts found state tribunal section essentially elevated townsend exhortation mandatory presumption correctness miller see also emphasizing respect appropriately accorded coequal state judiciary citing culombe connecticut opinion frankfurter townsend instruction respect appropriately accorded fact findings captured presumption adhered townsend definition term factual issue townsend explained issues thompson keohane fact meant basic primary historical facts facts sense recital external events credibility narrators quoting brown allen opinion frankfurter mixed questions fact law require application legal standard determinations townsend added facts sense applying reaffirmed basic primary historical facts factual issue statutory presumption correctness dominantly relates see miller ubsidiary factual questions alleged involuntariness confession cases subject presumption ultimate question requiring totality circumstances assessment matter independent federal determination cuyler sullivan mixed determination law fact generally subject presumption correctness must acknowledged however charted entirely clear course area miller regard contexts proper characterization thompson keohane question one fact law sometimes slippery see ibid wainwright witt always easy separate questions fact mixed questions law fact purposes two lines decisions compose jurisprudence several cases classified factual issues within compass questions extending beyond determination happened category notably includes competency stand trial maggio fulford per curiam juror impartiality witt patton yount rushen spain issues encompass basic primary historical facts resolution depends heavily trial appraisal witness credibility demeanor see witt although trial applying kind legal standard sees hears predominate function determining juror bias involves credibility findings whose basis easily discerned appellate reasoned trial better positioned make decisions genre therefore accorded judgment presumptive weight miller issue involves credibility witnesses therefore turns largely evaluation demeanor compelling familiar justifications leaving process applying law fact trial hand ranked issues thompson keohane law purposes voluntariness confession miller effectiveness counsel assistance strickland washington potential conflict interest arising attorney representation multiple defendants cuyler happened issues cases warranted presumption correctness declared ultimate question outside domain uniquely legal dimension miller see also sumner mata per curiam constitutionality pretrial identification procedures used case mixed question law fact governed brewer williams waiver sixth amendment right assistance counsel question historical fact rather requires application constitutional principles facts ultimate custody determination miranda purposes persuaded fits within latter class cases two discrete inquiries essential determination first circumstances surrounding interrogation second given circumstances reasonable person felt liberty terminate interrogation leave scene set players lines actions reconstructed must apply thompson keohane objective test resolve ultimate inquiry formal arrest restraint freedom movement degree associated formal arrest california beheler per curiam quoting mathiason first inquiry agree distinctly factual findings questions attract presumption correctness second inquiry however calls application controlling legal standard historical facts ultimate determination hold presents mixed question law fact qualifying independent review practical considerations prompted type questions like juror bias competency factual issue therefore governed presumption correctness dominant case illustrates trial superior capacity resolve credibility issues dispositive custody inquiry credibility determinations case alleged involuntariness confession see miller may sometimes contribute establishment historical facts thus identification totality circumstances crucial question entails evaluation made determination circumstances encountered reasonable person identified circumstances add custody defined miranda see berkemer mccarty thompson keohane must assess reasonable man suspect position understood situation cf miller ssessments credibility demeanor crucial proper resolution ultimate issue unlike voir dire juror patton determination defendant competency maggio take place open full record miller trial vantage whether defendant custody miranda purposes see ibid police interrogations yielding confessions ordinarily occur inherently coercive environment furthermore fathoming state mind potential juror defendant order answer questions free thompson keohane bias competent stand trial trial makes decision one unlikely precedential value contrast custody determinations guide future decisions thus conclude historical facts resolved state appreciably better position federal habeas make ultimate determination consistency law enforcement officer conduct federal miranda warning requirement see ibid notably treated custody question one law complained courts erroneously expanded meaning custodial interrogation see beheler summarily reversing california appeal judgment respondent custody mathiason summarily reversing oregon determination respondent custody cf oregon hass state thompson keohane may impose greater restrictions police activity matter federal constitutional law specifically refrains imposing anomalous type question differently individual complains state courts erroneously constricted circumstances add custody conclusion classifying custody determination qualifying independent review serve legitimate law enforcement interests effectively serves insure protection right decisions bear law declaration aspect independent review potentially may guide police unify precedent stabilize law see berkemer routine traffic stop typically temporary brief public place driver custody miranda warning purposes see also monaghan constitutional fact review colum rev norm elaboration occurs best power consider fully series closely related situations elaboration constitutional right implicated may accurately described law declaration law application ordered footnotes know course mean take lot time leave time want got something else going oh indiscernible around know called probably woke laying okay know go time want got know trying trying crack thing imagine secret friends associates kind calling saying know pointing yeah indiscernible guy know friends ten years know guy starting say stuff never even said app willing work thing make best bad situation ca tell bad situation mean free get walk never talk telling probably last chance say something people gon na believe let let say enough indiscernible already prove conclusively beyond reasonable doubt responsible thing thing well really lot responsible guy stuck problem already told story well told critical part told part dixie gets killed know guys job supposed know well like told know thing know thing got kind get straight today see know thing question mind see see looking know care dixie mean thompson keohane something wanted happen think time come honest thing turn around later try honest told part truth told lot told mean probably lying directly lying omission tell right search warrant served home search warrant truck gon na served got forensic expert anchorage huh believe bad person really hat happened never planned happened one things happen happened stuck mean stuck hell mess got finally got trouble possibly imagine mean brought thing causes mean know whether started thing grabbing knife saying gon na indiscernible got turned around happened mean know things trial also rejected thompson contention thompson keohane confession involuntary direct habeas review thompson unsuccessfully asserted involuntariness confession petition however present issue unclear case deference alaska appellate accorded trial conclusion petitioner custody later decisions alaska appeals reviewed trial courts custody determinations clear error see higgins state alaska app mckillop state alaska app panel relied krantz briggs held custody determinations warrant presumption correctness state made fact findings hearing merits claims state courts incorrectly decided miranda issues withrow williams confirms appropriately considered federal habeas review section lists eight exceptions presumption correctness full reads proceeding instituted federal application writ habeas corpus person custody pursuant judgment state determination hearing merits factual issue made state competent jurisdiction proceeding applicant writ thompson keohane state officer agent thereof parties evidenced written finding written opinion reliable adequate written indicia shall presumed correct unless applicant shall establish shall otherwise appear respondent shall admit merits factual dispute resolved state hearing factfinding procedure employed state adequate afford full fair hearing material facts adequately developed state hearing state lacked jurisdiction subject matter person applicant state proceeding applicant indigent state deprivation constitutional right failed appoint counsel represent state proceeding applicant receive full fair adequate hearing state proceeding applicant otherwise denied due process law state proceeding unless part record state proceeding determination factual issue made pertinent thompson keohane determination sufficiency evidence support factual determination produced provided hereinafter federal consideration part record whole concludes factual determination fairly supported record evidentiary hearing proceeding federal due proof factual determination made unless existence one circumstances respectively set forth paragraphs numbered inclusive shown applicant otherwise appears admitted respondent unless concludes pursuant provisions paragraph numbered record state proceeding considered whole fairly support factual determination burden shall rest upon applicant establish convincing evidence factual determination state erroneous list circumstances warranting evidentiary hearing federal habeas proceeding set similar list set townsend sain legislative history indicates house judiciary committee framing recommendations mindful recent precedent including townsend supra see also liebman hertz federal habeas corpus practice procedure pp ed description interplay habeas statute townsend keeney partially overruled townsend point relevant keeney held standard rather deliberate standard correct standard excusing habeas petitioner failure develop material fact proceedings see also brown allen opinion frankfurter ascertainment historical facts dispose claim calls interpretation legal significance facts district judge must exercise judgment blend facts legal values thus mixed questions application constitutional principles facts found leave duty adjudication federal judge citation omitted see cooter gell hartmarx observing regard appellate review sanctions imposed fed rule civ proc long noted difficulty distinguishing legal factual issues thompson keohane swint acknowledging relation appellate review intent determinations title vii cases vexing nature distinction questions fact questions law totality circumstances cast custody determination contrary respondent suggestions mean deferential review order see miller fenton determination whether totality circumstances confession obtained manner consistent constitution qualifies independent review federal habeas earlier observed see supra trial decided thompson motion suppress september statements papers submitted without holding evidentiary hearing respondents observe reasonable person assessments prominently gauge negligence personal injury litigation fall within province fact triers see cooter gell negligence determinations generally reviewed deferentially thompson keohane mcallister district finding negligence clearly erroneous wright miller federal practice procedures ed traditionally legal system entrusted negligence questions jurors inviting apply community standards see keeton dobbs keeton owen prosser keeton law torts pp ed reason question usually said one fact although apparent function jury fixing standard differs judge reduced anything approaching definite rule judges alone make custody assessments miranda purposes view identifying recurrent patterns advancing uniform outcomes supply definite rule nonetheless reduce area uncertainty see illinois perkins miranda warnings required prior questioning incarcerated individual undercover agent suspect unaware police presence coerced berkemer mccarty nature suspected offense irrelevant duty administer miranda warnings oregon mathiason per curiam fact interrogation occurs police station require miranda warnings contexts similarly concluded likely absence precedential value cuts requiring plenary appellate review district determination example cooter gell hartmarx decision confirming standard applies appellate review sanctions fed rule civ proc observed plenary review likely fail produce normal benefits come appellate decision question law quoting pierce underwood see stansbury california per curiam slip review precedent demonstrated well settled principle officer undisclosed subjective belief person questioned suspect irrelevant objective custody determination pennsylvania bruder per curiam summary reversal appropriate decision contrary rule berkemer mccarty ordinary traffic stops involve custody purposes miranda thompson keohane justice thomas chief justice joins dissenting carl thompson murdered stabbing times wrapped body chains bedspread tossed corpse gravel pit part investigation police officers fairbanks alaska questioned thompson role murder thompson confessed thompson repeatedly told leave interview fact permitted leave close questioning believe alaska trial judge first decided question almost decade ago far better position federal habeas determine whether thompson custody purposes miranda arizona long judgment finds fair support record presume correct dissent determine whether person custody miranda must examine circumstances surrounding interrogation ultimate inquiry simply whether formal arrest restraint freedom movement degree associated formal arrest stansbury california slip quoting california beheler per curiam quoting turn oregon mathiason thompson keohane per curiam relevant inquiry reasonable man suspect shoes understood situation slip quoting berkemer mccarty agree majority legal standard must applied state trial judge making miranda custody inquiry light recent decisions applying however agree standards articulated townsend sain overruled part keeney distinguishing factual issues mixed questions law fact dictate result either way case see wainwright witt juror bias determination question fact even though trial judge course applying kind legal standard sees hears patton yount juror bias question fact although course factual legal questions considered deciding whether juror qualified miranda custody issue falls somewhere pristine legal standard simple historical fact must decide matter sound administration justice judicial actor better positioned decide issue question miller fenton state trial judge estimation judicial actor decide relatively straightforward question miranda custody see california beheler supra stevens dissenting state courts far better equipped assess police practices highly relevant determination whether particular circumstances amount custodial interrogation making custody determination state trial judge must consider complex diverse factors thompson keohane effort gain overall sense defendant situation time interrogation factors include minimum location timing length interview nature tone questioning whether defendant came place questioning voluntarily use physical contact physical restraint demeanor key players interview proceedings held assessing facts state trial judge often take live testimony consider documentary evidence listen audiotapes watch videotapes interrogation assessments credibility demeanor crucial ultimate determination trial judge often weigh conflicting accounts transpired trial judge also likely draw inferences similarly entitled deference physical documentary evidence facts anderson bessemer city miranda custody inquiry thus often matter shades degrees withrow williams concurring part dissenting part slip requires state trial judge make number close calls cooter gell hartmarx citation omitted majority quite right test contains objective component reasonable man suspect shoes understood situation stansbury california supra slip alone dispositive whether determination reviewed deferentially see cooter gell hartmarx supra rule negligence determinations involve objective tests subject deferential review line pure facts application legal standard commonsensical reasonableness faint thompson keohane one humphrey posner concurring distorts reality say subtle factbound assessments go determining like suspect shoes simply go window comes time ultimate inquiry ante reasonable person assessed situation state trial unique position observing defendant listening evidence presented trial determine whether reasonable person defendant position felt free leave police station purvis dugger cert denied light determinations reasonable person test meaningfully applied see cooter gell hartmarx supra familiar issues litigants trial better situated appeals marshal pertinent facts apply legal standard reasons doubt state trier fact best situated put suspect shoes consequently better position determine like reasonable man suspect shoes federal habeas courts often reviewing cold record much decade initial determination inferior position make assessment though state factual determinations may perhaps reflected record many assessments comprise state trial judge ultimate determination subtle difficult reduce writing unlikely preserved meaningful way review appeal state courts fully qualified identify constitutional error evaluate prejudicial effect brecht abrahamson slip absent indication contrary state thompson keohane courts presumed applied federal law faithfully federal courts withrow williams supra scalia concurring part dissenting part slip insult colleagues imply today state judges sufficiently competent reliable make decision straightforward whether person custody purposes miranda see concurring part dissenting part slip depend law enforcement officials administer miranda warnings first instance state courts provide remedy law enforcement officers err also see reason remand case ninth circuit analysis dispute thompson came police station voluntarily dispute repeatedly told leave police station time also clear left police station freely end interrogation california beheler per curiam held person custody thompson keohane suspect placed arrest voluntarily comes police station allowed leave unhindered police brief interview ibid oregon mathiason per curiam found clear defendant miranda custody came voluntarily police station immediately informed arrest close interview fact leave police station without hindrance see also ibid requirement warnings imposed simply questioning takes place station house questioned person one police suspect thompson establish miranda violation even de novo review resolve question avoid putting state alaska uncertainty expense defending sixth time nine years eminently reasonable judgment secured confessed murderer respectfully dissent majority believes federal oversight state custody judgments necessary advanc uniform outcomes achieved reduce area uncertainty ante uniformity outcome virtue worth pursuing generally determined line cases beginning teague lane plurality opinion habeas uniformity must give way concerns comity finality see costs imposed upon state retroactive application new rules constitutional law habeas corpus generally far outweigh benefits application quoting solem stumes powell concurring judgment federal habeas review time constitutional rules criminal procedure expense valid state convictions based reasonable applications law see butler mckellar new rule principle validates reasonable interpretations existing precedents made state courts extent thompson claim merit seems certain relief barred decision teague lane supra plurality opinion progeny interests finality predictability comity underlying new rule jurisprudence may undermined equal degree invocation rule dictated precedent application old rule manner dictated precedent stringer black case clear granting relief sought create new rule prior decision applied novel setting thereby extending precedent ibid light beheler mathiason state judgment least reasonable teague insulates habeas review state courts reasonable interpretations existing precedents wright west opinion thomas quoting sawyer smith quoting turn butler mckellar supra page