texas cobb argued january decided april arrest unrelated offense respondent confessed home burglary denied knowledge woman child disappearance home indicted burglary counsel appointed represent later confessed father killed woman child father contacted police custody respondent waived rights miranda arizona confessed murders convicted capital murder sentenced death appeal texas criminal appeals argued inter alia confession suppressed obtained violation sixth amendment right counsel claimed attached counsel appointed burglary case reversed remanded holding right counsel attaches offense charged also attaches offense closely related factually offense charged held sixth amendment right counsel offense specific necessarily extend offenses factually related actually charged pp mcneil wisconsin held defendant statements regarding offenses charged admissible notwithstanding attachment sixth amendment right counsel charged offenses although lower courts read mcneil definition exception crimes factually related charged offense interpreted brewer williams maine moulton support view declines brewer address question issue extent moulton spoke matter expressly referred nature sixth amendment right counsel predicting rule prove disastrous suspects constitutional rights permit police almost total license conduct unwanted uncounseled interrogations respondent fails appreciate two critical considerations first doubt suspect must apprised rights compulsory consult attorney authorities may conduct custodial interrogation see miranda supra police scrupulously followed miranda dictates questioning respondent second constitution negate society interest police ability talk witnesses suspects even charged offenses see mcneil supra pp although sixth amendment right counsel clearly attaches charged offenses recognized contexts definition offense necessarily limited four corners charging document test determine whether two different offenses one whether provision requires proof fact blockburger blockburger test applied delineate scope fifth amendment double jeopardy clause prevents multiple successive prosecutions offense see brown ohio constitutional difference offense double jeopardy contexts accordingly sixth amendment right counsel attaches encompasses offenses even formally charged considered offense blockburger test pp time respondent confessed murders indicted burglary charged murders defined texas law crimes offense blockburger thus sixth amendment right counsel bar police interrogating respondent regarding murders confession therefore admissible reversed rehnquist delivered opinion scalia kennedy thomas joined kennedy filed concurring opinion scalia thomas joined breyer filed dissenting opinion stevens souter ginsburg joined texas petitioner raymond levi cobb writ certiorari criminal appeals texas april chief justice rehnquist delivered opinion texas criminal appeals held criminal defendant sixth amendment right counsel attaches offense charged offenses closely related factually charged offense hold decision mcneil wisconsin meant said sixth amendment right offense specific december lindsey owings reported walker county texas sheriff office home shared wife margaret daughter kori rae burglarized also informed police wife daughter missing respondent raymond levi cobb lived across street owings acting anonymous tip respondent involved burglary walker county investigators questioned events denied involvement july arrest unrelated offense respondent questioned incident respondent gave written statement confessing burglary denied knowledge relating disappearances respondent subsequently indicted burglary hal ridley appointed august represent respondent charge shortly ridley appointment investigators asked received permission question respondent disappearances respondent continued deny involvement investigators repeated process september ridley permission result november respondent free bond burglary case living father odessa texas time respondent father contacted walker county sheriff office report respondent confessed killed margaret owings course burglary walker county investigators directed respondent father odessa police station gave statement odessa police faxed statement walker county investigators secured warrant respondent arrest faxed back odessa shortly thereafter odessa police took respondent custody administered warnings pursuant miranda arizona respondent waived rights short time respondent confessed murdering margaret kori rae respondent explained margaret confronted attempting remove owings stereo stabbed stomach knife carrying respondent told police dragged body wooded area hundred yards house respondent stated went back house saw baby laying bed took baby sleeping whole time laid baby ground four five feet away mother went back house got flat edge shovel find went back started digging hole got hole dug baby awake started going toward mom fell hole put lady hole covered remember stabbing different knife ground crying right app pet cert respondent later led police location buried victims bodies respondent convicted capital murder murdering one person course single criminal transaction see texas penal code ann sentenced death appeal criminal appeals texas respondent argued inter alia confession suppressed obtained violation sixth amendment right counsel relying michigan jackson respondent contended right counsel attached ridley appointed burglary case odessa police therefore required secure ridley permission proceeding interrogation criminal appeals reversed respondent conviction divided vote remanded new trial held right counsel attaches offense charged also attaches offense closely related factually offense charged wl citations omitted finding capital murder charge factually interwoven burglary concluded respondent sixth amendment right counsel attached capital murder charge even though respondent yet charged offense found respondent asserted right accepting ridley appointment burglary case see ibid accordingly deemed confession inadmissible found introduction harmless error see three justices dissented finding michigan jackson distinguishable concluding respondent made valid unilateral waiver right counsel confessing see wl opinion mccormick state sought review granted certiorari consider first whether sixth amendment right counsel extends crimes factually related actually charged second whether respondent made valid unilateral waiver right case answer first question negative reach second sixth amendment provides criminal prosecutions accused shall enjoy right assistance counsel defence mcneil wisconsin explained right arises sixth amendment right counsel offense specific invoked future prosecutions attach prosecution commenced initiation adversary judicial criminal proceedings whether way formal charge preliminary hearing indictment information arraignment citations internal quotation marks omitted accordingly held defendant statements regarding offenses charged admissible notwithstanding attachment sixth amendment right counsel charged offenses see state courts federal courts appeals however read mcneil definition exception crimes factually related charged several courts interpreted brewer williams maine moulton decided well mcneil support view respondent invites us approve decline brewer suspect abduction murder girl fled scene crime des moines iowa miles east davenport iowa surrendered police arrest warrant issued des moines charge abduction suspect arraigned warrant davenport judge des moines police traveled davenport took man custody began drive back des moines along way one officers persuaded suspect lead police victim body suspect ultimately convicted girl murder upheld federal habeas conclusion police violated suspect sixth amendment right counsel held officer comments suspect constituted interrogation suspect validly waived right counsel responding officer see respondent suggests brewer implicitly held right counsel attached factually related murder suspect arraigned abduction charge see brief respondent opinion however simply address significance fact suspect arraigned abduction charge parties way argue question constitutional rights defined inferences opinions address question issue cf hagans lavine hen questions jurisdiction passed prior decisions sub silentio never considered bound subsequent case finally brings jurisdictional issue us moulton similarly unhelpful respondent case involved two individuals indicted series thefts one secretly agreed cooperate police investigation codefendant moulton suggestion police informant recorded several telephone calls one conversation moulton two discussed criminal exploits possible alibis course conversations moulton made various incriminating statements regarding thefts charged additional crimes superseding indictment moulton charged original crimes well burglary arson three additional thefts trial state introduced portions recorded conversation moulton ultimately convicted three originally charged thefts plus one count burglary moulton appealed convictions judicial maine arguing introduction recorded conversation violated sixth amendment right counsel agreed holding statements may admissible investigation prosecution charges time recordings made adversary proceedings yet commenced charges moulton right counsel already attached incriminating statements ruled inadmissible trial given circumstances acquired quoting state moulton affirmed respondent contends affirming reversal theft burglary charges moulton must concluded moulton sixth amendment right counsel attached burglary charge see brief respondent see also brief national association criminal defense lawyers et al amici curiae moulton address question us extent moulton spoke matter expressly referred nature sixth amendment right counsel police interest thorough investigation crimes formal charges already filed also interest investigating new additional crimes investigations either type crime may require surveillance individuals already indictment moreover law enforcement officials investigating individual suspected committing one crime formally charged committed another crime obviously seek discover evidence useful trial either crime seeking evidence pertaining pending charges however government investigative powers limited sixth amendment rights accused hand exclude evidence pertaining charges sixth amendment right counsel attached time evidence obtained simply charges pending time unnecessarily frustrate public interest investigation criminal activities emphasis added omitted see also purpose meeting discuss pending charges police knew moulton informant meeting express purpose discussing pending charges emphasis added thus respondent reliance moulton misplaced light language employed subsequently mcneil puzzling respondent predicts rule prove disastrous suspects constitutional rights permit law enforcement officers almost complete total license conduct unwanted uncounseled interrogations brief respondent besides offering evidence parade horribles occurred jurisdictions enlarged upon mcneil fails appreciate significance two critical considerations first doubt suspect must apprised rights compulsory consult attorney authorities may conduct custodial interrogation see miranda arizona quoting miranda present case police scrupulously followed miranda dictates questioning second critical recognize constitution negate society interest ability police talk witnesses suspects even charged offenses since ready ability obtain uncoerced confessions evil unmitigated good society loser admissions guilt resulting valid miranda waivers merely desirable essential society compelling interest finding convicting punishing violate law mcneil see also moulton supra exclude evidence pertaining charges sixth amendment right counsel attached time evidence obtained simply charges pending time unnecessarily frustrate public interest investigation criminal activities although clear sixth amendment right counsel attaches charged offenses recognized contexts definition offense necessarily limited four corners charging instrument blockburger explained act transaction constitutes violation two distinct statutory provisions test applied determine whether two offenses one whether provision requires proof fact since applied blockburger test delineate scope fifth amendment double jeopardy clause prevents multiple successive prosecutions offence see brown ohio see constitutional difference meaning term offense contexts double jeopardy right counsel accordingly hold sixth amendment right counsel attaches encompass offenses even formally charged considered offense blockburger simultaneously conceding test lacks precision police officers may hope post dissent suggests adopting blockburger definition offense prove difficult administer dissent vague iterations closely related inextricably intertwined test post defy simple application dissent seems presuppose officers possess complete knowledge circumstances surrounding incident officers able tailor investigation avoid addressing factually related offenses assumption however ignores reality police often yet aware exact sequence scope events investigating indeed police must investigate first place deterred possibility violating sixth amendment police likely refrain questioning certain defendants altogether remains apply principles facts hand time confessed odessa police respondent indicted burglary owings residence charged murders margaret kori rae defined texas law burglary capital murder offense blockburger compare texas penal code ann requiring entry continued concealment habitation building requiring murder one person single criminal transaction accordingly sixth amendment right counsel bar police interrogating respondent regarding murders respondent confession therefore admissible judgment criminal appeals texas reversed ordered texas petitioner raymond levi cobb writ certiorari criminal appeals texas april justice kennedy justice scalia justice thomas join concurring opinion altogether sufficient explain decision texas criminal appeals reversed failure recognize nature sixth amendment right counsel seems advisable however observe reached conclusion without necessity reaffirm give approval decision michigan jackson course wise view underlying theory jackson seems questionable facts instant case well illustrate difficult understand utility sixth amendment rule operates invalidate confession given free choice suspects received proper advice miranda rights waived nonetheless miranda rule related preventative rule edwards arizona serve protect suspect voluntary choice speak outside lawyer presence parallel rule announced jackson however supersedes suspect voluntary choice speak investigators jackson decided made following observation respect edwards preserving integrity accused choice communicate police counsel essence edwards progeny barring accused making initial election whether face state officers questioning aid counsel go alone accused knowingly intelligently pursues latter course see reason uncounseled statements makes must excluded trial patterson illinois little justification applying course reasoning equal force preventative rule announced jackson jackson wholesale importation edwards rule sixth amendment instant case cobb time indicated law enforcement authorities elected remain silent double murder indications made voluntary choice give account indeed even cobb assert wish speak time confessed edwards rule operates preserve free choice suspect remain silent jackson apply override choice reason doubt wisdom jackson holding neither miranda edwards enforces fifth amendment right unless suspect makes clear unambiguous assertion right presence counsel custodial interrogation davis required miranda warning given suspect later confession made outside counsel presence suppressed protect fifth amendment right silence reasonable officer certain suspect expressed unequivocal election right sixth amendment right counsel attaches quite without reference suspect choice speak investigators miranda warning commencement formal prosecution indicated initiation adversary judicial proceedings marks beginning sixth amendment right see ante quoting mcneil wisconsin events may quite independent suspect election remain silent interest edwards rule serves protect respect miranda fifth amendment thus makes little sense protective rule attach absent election suspect question wisdom preventative rule protect suspect desire speak shown intent even jackson remain good law protections apply suspect made clear unambiguous assertion right speak outside presence counsel clear election required edwards cobb made assertion yet justice breyer dissent rests upon assumption jackson rule operate exclude confession matter little justification extension rule even limited application rests doubtful rationale justice breyer defends jackson arguing suspect accepted counsel commencement adversarial proceedings forced confront police interrogation without assistance counsel see post dissenting opinion acceptance counsel arraignment similar proceeding begs question acceptance counsel quite unremarkable suspect might want assistance expert law guide hearings trial attendant complex legal matters might arise nonetheless might choose give forthright account events occurred rule prevents suspect even making choice serves little purpose especially given regime miranda edwards remarks join full opinion texas petitioner raymond levi cobb writ certiorari criminal appeals texas april justice breyer justice stevens justice souter justice ginsburg join dissenting case focuses upon meaning single word offense arises context sixth amendment several basic background principles define context first sixth amendment right counsel plays central role ensuring fairness criminal proceedings system justice see gideon wainwright powell alabama second right attaches adversary proceedings triggered government formal accusation crime begin see brewer williams kirby illinois massiah third right attaches law enforcement officials required circumstances deal defendant counsel rather directly even defendant waived fifth amendment rights see michigan jackson waiver right presence counsel assumed invalid unless accused initiates communication maine moulton sixth amendment gives defendant right rely counsel medium state cf aba model rule professional conduct lawyer generally prohibited communicating person known represented counsel subject representation without counsel consent green prosecutor communications defendants limits crim bull version model rule predecessor adopted fourth particular aspect right issue rule police ordinarily must communicate defendant counsel important limits particular recognizing need law enforcement officials investigate new additional crimes subject current proceedings maine moulton supra made clear right counsel attach every crime accused may commit committed see mcneil wisconsin right invoked future prosecutions forbid interrogation unrelated charge word previously noted right offense specific case focuses upon principle particular upon meaning words offense specific words appear sixth amendment case law sixth amendment text see amdt guaranteeing right counsel criminal prosecutions definition words sometimes term offense may refer words written criminal statute sometimes may refer generally course conduct world aspects constitute elements one crimes sometimes may refer narrowly technically conceptually severable aspects latter case requires us determine whether offense sixth amendment purposes includes factually related aspects single course conduct acts make essential elements crime charged answer question light sixth amendment basic objectives set forth case law least answer way undermine objectives today decides offense means crime set forth within four corners charging instrument along crimes considered offense test established blockburger ante view unnecessarily technical definition undermines sixth amendment protections nothing effective law enforcement one thing majority rule leaving fifth amendment protections place threatens diminish severely additional protection rulings sixth amendment provides grants right counsel defendants charged crime insists law enforcement officers thereafter communicate counsel see michigan jackson supra sixth amendment prevents police questioning represented defendant informants even fifth amendment rhode island innis fifth amendment right unlike sixth applies custodial interrogation justice kennedy justice scalia justice thomas majority apparently believe protections constitutionally unimportant view underlying theory jackson seems questionable ante kennedy concurring majority concurring opinions suggest suspect ability invoke fifth amendment right refuse police questioning offers suspect adequate constitutional protection ante majority opinion see also ante kennedy concurring jackson focuses upon suspect perhaps frightened uneducated suspect hesitant rely upon unaided judgment dealings police invoked constitutional right legal assistance matters see michigan jackson constitution take away one hand gives see gideon wainwright accused expressed desire deal police counsel police may reinitiate interrogation counsel made available aba ann model rule professional conduct comment ed rule exists prevent lawyers taking advantage uncounseled laypersons preserve integrity relationship reasons sixth amendment right issue independent fifth amendment protections importance sixth amendment right repeatedly recognized cases see michigan jackson supra conclude assertion right counsel less significant need additional safeguards less clear request counsel made arraignment basis claim sixth amendment justice kennedy primarily relies upon patterson illinois support conclusion jackson good law quotes patterson statement constitution ba accused making initial election speak police without counsel assistance ante quoting patterson illinois supra statement however justify overruling jackson patterson noted matter significance time interrogated defendant neither retained accepted appointment counsel characterized holding jackson depended upon fact accused ha asked help lawyer dealing police quoting michigan jackson supra explained nce accused lawyer distinct set constitutional safeguards aimed preserving sanctity relationship takes effect citing maine moulton justice kennedy also criticizes jackson ground prevents suspect making th choice give forthright account events occurred ante suspect may initiate communication police thereby avoiding risk police induced make unaided kind critical legal decision best made help counsel requested unlike justice kennedy majority call jackson question majority undermine case significantly diminishing sixth amendment protections case provides criminal codes lengthy highly detailed often proliferating overlapping related statutory offenses point prosecutors easily spin startlingly numerous series offenses single criminal transaction ashe swenson thus armed robber reaches across store counter grabs cashier demands money life may single instance conduct committed several offenses majority sense term including armed robbery assault battery trespass use firearm commit felony perhaps possession firearm felon well person using selling drugs single occasion might guilty possessing various drugs conspiring sell drugs influence illegal drugs possessing drug paraphernalia possessing gun relation drug sale depending upon circumstances violating various gun laws well protester blocking entrance federal building might also trespassing failing disperse unlawfully assembling obstructing government administration one time majority rule permits law enforcement officials question charged crime without first approaching counsel simple device asking questions related crime actually charged indictment thus police ask individual charged robbery say assault cashier yet charged uncharged offense unless blockburger definition counts crime without notifying counsel indeed majority rule permit law enforcement officials question anyone charged crime one examples given conduct single relevant occasion without notifying counsel unless prosecutor charged every possible crime arising brief course conduct sixth amendment sense common sense rule make left communicate counsel rule majority approach inconsistent common understanding scope counsel representation undermine lawyer role defendant government maine moulton supra random basis remove significant portion protection found inherent sixth amendment fact rule today announced majority two seminal cases sixth amendment jurisprudence come differently maine moulton majority points expressly referred nature sixth amendment right counsel ante treated burglary theft offense sixth amendment purposes despite opinion clear statement ncriminating statements pertaining crimes sixth amendment right yet attached course admissible trial offenses affirmed lower reversal burglary theft charges even though time incriminating statements issue made moulton charged theft receiving majority rule contrast theft receiving burglary required proof fact moulton theft convictions overturned compare rev stat tit theft requiring knowing receipt retention disposal stolen property intent deprive owner thereof burglary requiring entry structure without permission intent commit crime brewer williams effect majority rule even dramatic murder child abduction required proof fact required time impermissible interrogation williams charged abduction child williams murder conviction remained undisturbed see compare iowa code supp murder requiring killing iowa code repealed requiring proof child taken intent conceal child parent guardian suggest previously addressed decided question presented case rather point conception sixth amendment right time moulton brewer decided naturally presumed extended factually related uncharged offenses time majority rule threatens legal clarity necessary effective law enforcement majority aware word offense encompass something beyond four corners charging instrument imports sixth amendment law definition offense set forth blockburger case interpreting double jeopardy clause fifth amendment clause uses word offence otherwise relevance whatever fifth amendment virtues blockburger may import sixth amendment context work havoc theory test says two offenses offense unless requires proof fact see ante majority opinion means different crimes mentioned offense many laws example statute defining assault statute defining robbery requires proof fact compare cal penal code ann west robbery requiring taking personal property another assault requiring attempt commit violent injury hence extension definition offense accomplished use blockburger test nothing address substantial concerns circumvention sixth amendment right raised majority rule point blockburger test proved extraordinarily difficult administer practice judges lawyers law professors often disagree apply see woodward per curiam holding lower misapplied blockburger test compare dixon opinion scalia applying blockburger concluding contempt offense underlying substantive crime yet asks lawyers judges ordinarily work double jeopardy law police officers field navigate blockburger question suspects cf new york belton noting importance clear rules guide police behavior apply test successfully legal challenges inevitable result believe resemble much sargasso sea criminal law equivalent milton serbonian bog armies whole sunk course alternative define offense terms conduct constitutes crime offender committed particular occasion including criminal acts closely related inextricably intertwined particular crime set forth charging instrument alternative perfect language used lacks precision police officers may hope requires lower courts specify meaning apply individual cases yet virtually every lower consider issue defined offense sixth amendment context encompass closely related acts see ante majority opinion citing cases third fourth fifth sixth ninth circuits well state courts massachusetts pennsylvania taylor state app people clankie state tucker cert denied courts found offenses closely related involved victim set acts evidence motivation see taylor state supra stolen property charges burglary state tucker supra burglary robbery murder home occupant pack super burglary receiving stolen property theft charges appeal denied found offenses unrelated time location factual circumstances significantly separated one see commonwealth rainwater mass vehicle theft charge earlier vehicle thefts area cert denied whittlesey state md murder making false statements charges cert denied people dotson app murder weapons charges appeal denied one say favor commonly followed approach perfectly clear comports common sense far easier apply majority one might add unlike majority test consistent assumptions previous cases see maine moulton affirming reversal burglary theft convictions brewer williams affirming grant habeas vacated murder conviction importantly closely related test furthers rather undermines sixth amendment right counsel right necessary realization practice noble ideal fair trial gideon wainwright texas criminal appeals following commonly accepted approach found charged burglary uncharged murders closely related occurred short period time day basic location victims murders also victims burglary cobb committed one murders furtherance robbery cover crimes police questioning cobb knew already lawyer representing burglary charges demonstrated belief lawyer also represented cobb respect murders asking permission question cobb murders previous occasions relatedness crimes well illustrated impossibility questioning cobb murders without eliciting admissions burglary see tr testimony police officer obtained murder confession basically told us gone house burglarize nobody home record state exh typed statement cobb admitting committed murders entering house stealing stereo parts view cobb waive right counsel see supra considerations sufficient police officers spoken cobb counsel questioning cobb affirm decision texas consequently dissent footnotes see covarrubias melgar doherty arnold williams commonwealth rainwater mass pack super curiously predicting disastrous consequences core values underlying sixth amendment see post opinion breyer dissenters give short shrift fifth amendment role expressed miranda dickerson protecting defendant right consult counsel talking police even though sixth amendment right counsel attached uncharged offenses defendants retain ability miranda refuse police questioning indeed charged defendants presumably met counsel opportunity discuss whether advisable invoke fifth amendment rights thus rarest cases decision today impact whatsoever upon defendant ability protect sixth amendment right also worth noting contrary dissent suggestion see post background principle sixth amendment jurisprudence establishing may contact defendant police without counsel present dissent expand sixth amendment right assistance counsel criminal prosecution rule exists prevent lawyers taking advantage uncounseled laypersons preserve integrity relationship post quoting aba ann model rule profesional conduct ed every profession competent define standards conduct members standards obviously controlling interpretation constitutional provisions sixth amendment right counsel personal defendant specific offense sense easily describe sixth amendment prosecution specific insofar prevents discussion charged offenses well offenses blockburger subject later prosecution indeed text sixth amendment confines scope criminal prosecutions