Law Commons^™

Burdening The Fifth Amendment: Toward A Presumptive Barrier Theory, Mark Berger

Faculty Works

Judging how heavily the state may burden the decision to exercise or forego the fifth amendment privilege against self-incrimination is a concededly problematic undertaking. Nevertheless, the formulation of a standard is essential to ensure principled decision making. Unfortunately, however, the Supreme Court has thus far avoided the task. The decisions from the Warren era suggest in very broad language that any burden on the exercise of the right to remain silent is forbidden, while more recent rulings have barred only those penalties automatically imposed for assertions of the privilege. Neither extreme, however, represents a satisfactory resolution of the conflicting interests …