Duckworth v. Eagan
Quick Summary
The case of Duckworth v. Eagan (1989) is a U.S. Supreme Court decision that addressed the specific wording of the Miranda warnings. The Court ruled that police are not required to use the exact language from the Miranda v. Arizona decision when informing suspects of their rights. As long as the warnings convey the essential information—the right to remain silent, that statements can be used as evidence, and the right to an attorney—they are considered sufficient. This ruling clarified that minor variations in the wording of the warnings are permissible, reinforcing the core protections established in Miranda while allowing for some flexibility in police procedure.123
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