United States v. Courtney, 463 F.3d 333 (5th Cir. 2006). · Go Syfert
United States v. Courtney, 463 F.3d 333 (5th Cir. 2006). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
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cited 2× by 2 distinct cases, 2011–2022 · 2 courts · …e find seibert's holding in justice kennedy's opinion concurring in the judgment. at p. 338
118 citation events (118 in the last 25 years) across 33 distinct courts.
Strongest positive: United States v. Darrell Neely (cadc, 2024-12-27)
Treatment trajectory · 2006 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
2006 2016 2026
Top citers, strongest first. 50 distinct citers. How cited ↗
examined Cited as authority (verbatim quote) United States v. Darrell Neely (3×) also: Cited as authority (rule)
D.C. Cir. · 2024 · signal: cf. · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
because the record is well developed on this issue, we consider whether courtney was in custody during the first two interviews.
discussed Cited as authority (verbatim quote) United States v. Murillo-Gonzalez
10th Cir. · 2024 · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
seibert only applies if the first statements were obtained in violation of miranda.
discussed Cited as authority (verbatim quote) United States v. Perricone (2×) also: Cited "see"
5th Cir. · 2024 · signal: see · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
find seibert's holding in justice kennedy's opinion concurring in the judgment.
discussed Cited as authority (verbatim quote) United States v. Fernandez (2×) also: Cited as authority (rule)
5th Cir. · 2022 · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
e find seibert's holding in justice kennedy's opinion concurring in the judgment.
discussed Cited as authority (verbatim quote) United States v. Chhay Lim
5th Cir. · 2018 · signal: see also · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
therefore, we find seibert 's holding in justice kennedy's opinion concurring in the judgment.
discussed Cited as authority (verbatim quote) State v. Shawn William Wass
Idaho · 2017 · signal: see · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
we find seibert's holding in justice kennedy's opinion concurring in the judgment.
discussed Cited as authority (verbatim quote) United States v. Sanchez-Gallegos (2×) also: Cited as authority (rule)
10th Cir. · 2011 · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
e find seibert's holding in justice kennedy's opinion concurring in the judgment.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People of Michigan v. Scott Jeffray Deming
Mich. Ct. App. · 2026 · confidence medium
See, e.g., Hernandez v McIntosh, 146 F4th 142 , 158-159 (CA 2, 2025); United States v Neely, 124 F4th 937, 949 (CA DC, 2024); Guillen, 995 F3d at 1120 ; United States v Hernandez, 751 F3d 538, 539-540 (CA 7, 2014); United States v Street, 472 F3d 1298, 1313 (CA 11, 2006); United States v Courtney, 463 F3d 333, 338 (CA 5, 2006); United States v Ollie, 442 F3d 1135, 1142 (CA 8, 2006); United States v Williams, 435 F3d 1148, 1157-1158 (CA 9, 2006); United States v Naranjo, 426 F3d 221, 231-232 (CA 3, 2005); United States v Mashburn, 406 F3d 303, 308-309 (CA 4, 2005); Secret v Commonwealth, 296 Va…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State of Louisiana v. Jermaine Donald
La. Ct. App. · 2026 · confidence medium
Accordingly, federal circuit courts have recognized that the holding of Seibert is found in Justice Kennedy's opinion concurring in judgment. 7 See United States v. Courtney, 463 F.3d 333, 338 (5th Cir.2006); United States v. Williams, 435 F.3d 1148 , 1157–58 (9th Cir.2006); United States v. Naranjo, 426 F.3d 221 , 231–32 (3d Cir.2005).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Weld v. Carl
E.D. Mich. · 2024 · confidence medium
Facility, 514 F. App’x 618 , 625 n.2 (6th Cir. 2013) (“Because Sturm was not in custody when he first confessed, there was nothing improper in Warden’s earlier failure to Mirandize that needed to be ‘cured.’ Seibert applies only to a statement given during prewarning custodial interrogation.”); United States v. Courtney, 463 F.3d 333, 337 (5th Cir. 2006) (when defendant’s first statement does not violate Miranda, Seibert test does not apply to a post-Miranda statement); United States v. Kiam, 432 F.3d 524, 531 (3d Cir. 2006) (same); United States v. Evans, No. 18-20421, 2019 WL 4…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Rider
5th Cir. · 2024 · confidence medium
Iglesias-Villegas v. United States, 144 S. Ct. 268 (2023). 15 Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 444 (1966). 16 United States v. Courtney, 463 F.3d 333, 336 (5th Cir. 2006) (citing Miranda, 384 U.S. at 444 ).
examined Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Taing (3×) also: Cited "see, e.g."
5th Cir. · 2022 · confidence medium
We have ‘decline[d] to accord talismanic power’ to the freedom-of-movement inquiry, and have instead asked the additional question whether the relevant environment presents the same inherently coercive pressures as the type of station house questioning at issue in Miranda.” (internal citation omitted) (quoting Berkemer v. McCarty, 468 U.S. 420, 437 (1984)). 10 United States v. Courtney, 463 F.3d 333, 336 (5th Cir. 2006). 11 Oregon v. Elstad, 470 U.S. 298, 314 (1985). 12 470 U.S. 298 . 13 Id. at 318 . 14 Id. 15 Id. 5 Case: 21-50408 Document: 00516420296 Page: 6 Date Filed: 08/04/2022 No. …
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Fajardo v. Lumpkin
W.D. Tex. · 2021 · confidence medium
Petitioner was not formally arrested at the time he was questioned by police; as such, the only relevant inquiry “is how a reasonable man in [Petitioner]’s position would have understood his situation.” Stansbury v. California, 511 U.S. 318, 324 (1994); United States v. Courtney, 463 F.3d 333, 337 (5th Cir. 2006).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Guillen
10th Cir. · 2021 · confidence medium
United States v. Capers, 627 F.3d 470, 476 (2d Cir. 2010); United States v. Ollie, 442 F.3d 1135, 1142 (8th Cir. 2006); United States v. Street, 472 F.3d 1298, 1313 (11th Cir. 2006); United States v. Courtney, 463 F.3d 333, 338 (5th Cir. 2006); United States v. Williams, 435 F.3d 1148 , 1157–58 (9th Cir. 2006); United States v. Naranjo, 426 F.3d 221 , 231–32 (3d Cir. 2005) (Alito, J., on the panel); United States v. Mashburn, 406 F.3d 303 , 308–09 (4th Cir. 2005).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Secret v. Commonwealth of Virginia
E.D. Va. · 2020 · confidence medium
“Because Seibert is a plurality decision and Justice Kennedy concurred in the result on the narrowest grounds, it is his concurring opinion that provides the controlling law.” United States v. Street, 472 F.3d 1298, 1313 (11th Cir. 2006) (citing United States v. Gonzalez-Lauzan, 437 F.3d 1128 , 1136 n.6 (11th Cir. 2006) ); see also United States v. Capers, 627 F.3d 470, 476 (2d Cir. 2010); United States v. Kiam, 432 F.3d 524, 532 (3d Cir. 2006); United States v. Mashburn, 406 F.3d 303, 309 (4th Cir. 2005); United States v. Courtney, 463 F.3d 333, 338 (Sth Cir. 2006); United States v. Torre…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Modesto Gonzalez, III (2×)
5th Cir. · 2020 · confidence medium
Seibert’s holding is set forth “in Justice Kennedy’s opinion concurring in the 1 judgment.” United States v. Courtney, 463 F.3d 333, 338 (5th Cir. 2006). 2 For example, in Seibert, “[t]he postwarning interview resembled a cross- examination.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Abu Khatallah
D.D.C. · 2017 · confidence medium
See United States v. Carter, 489 F.3d 528, 536 (2d Cir. 2007) (adopting Justice Kennedy’s “deliberate, two-step” test); United States v. Kiam, 432 F.3d 524, 532 (3d Cir. 2006) (same); United States v. Mashburn, 406 F.3d 303, 308-09 (4th Cir. 2005) (same); United States v. Courtney, 463 F.3d 333, 338 (5th Cir. 2006) (same); United States v. Briones, 390 F.3d 610, 613 (8th Cir. 2004) (same); United States v. Williams, 435 F.3d 1148, 1158 (9th Cir. 2006) (same); United States v. Street, 472 F.3d 1298, 1313 (11th Cir. 2006) (same).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Romero-Medrano
S.D. Tex. · 2016 · confidence medium
A suspect is “in custody” for purposes of Miranda “when placed under formal arrest or when a reasonable person in the suspect’s position would have understood the situation to constitute a restraint on freedom of movement of the degree which the law associates with formal arrest.” United States v. Bengivenga, 845 F.2d 593, 596 (5th Cir.1988) (en banc) (adding that “the reasonable person through whom we view the situation must be neutral to the environment and to the purposes of the investigation—that is, neither guilty of criminal conduct and thus overly apprehensive nor insensit…
examined Cited as authority (rule) Adrian Reyes v. Greg Lewis (4×)
9th Cir. · 2016 · confidence medium
See United States v. Capers, 627 F.3d 470, 476 (2d Cir. 2010); United States v. Torres-Lona, 491 F.3d 750, 758 (8th Cir. 2007); United States v. Street, 472 F.3d 1298, 1313 (11th Cir. 2006); United States v. Courtney, 463 F.3d 333, 338 (5th Cir. 2006); United States v. Kiam, 432 F.3d 524, 532 (3d Cir. 2006); United States v. Mashburn, 406 F.3d 303, 309 (4th Cir. 2005).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Thomas Wooten
6th Cir. · 2015 · confidence medium
The Second Circuit, for example, held that “Seibert la[id] out an exception to Elstad for cases in which a deliberate, two-step strategy was used by law enforcement to obtain the postwarning confession.” United States v. Carter, 489 F.3d 528, 536 (2d Cir.2007) (emphasis added); see also United States v. Torres-Lona, 491 F.3d 750, 758 (8th Cir.2007); United States v. Williams, 435 F.3d 1148, 1158 (9th Cir.2006); United States v. Street, 472 F.3d 1298, 1313-14 (11th Cir.2006); United States v. Kiam, 432 F.3d 524, 532 (3d Cir.2006); United States v. Courtney, 463 F.3d 333, 338 (5th Cir.2006);…
cited Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Wittich
E.D. La. · 2014 · confidence medium
Doc. 75 at 10 (citing Oregon v. Mathi-ason, 429 U.S. 492, 495 , 97 S.Ct. 711 , 50 L.Ed.2d 714 (1977); United States v. Courtney, 463 F.3d 333, 337 (5th Cir.2006)). .
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Hector Tovar
5th Cir. · 2013 · confidence medium
Where, as here, there is no evidence of a two-step strategy as described in Seibert , " '[t]he admissibility of postwarning statements [] continuéis] to be governed by the principles of Elstad.' ” United States v. Courtney, 463 F.3d 333, 338 (5th Cir.2006) (quoting Seibert, 542 U.S. at 622 , 124 S.Ct. 2601 ) (modifications in original). 12 .
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State v. Nightingale
Me. · 2012 · confidence medium
See, e.g., United States v. Williams, 681 F.3d 35, 41 (2d Cir.2012) (“[W]e join[ ] our sister circuits in regarding Justice Kennedy’s concurrence in Seibert as controlling.” (citing United States v. Carter, 489 F.3d 528 (2d Cir.2007))); United States v. Nunez-Sanchez, 478 F.3d 663 , 668 n. 1 (5th Cir.2007) (identifying Justice Kennedy’s concurrence as the “holding” of the Seibert Court (quoting United States v. Courtney, 463 F.3d 333, 338 (5th Cir.2006))); United States v. Street, 472 F.3d 1298, 1313 (11th Cir.2006) (“Because Seibert is a plurality decision and Justice Kennedy co…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Jamie Aaron Kuhne v. Commonwealth of Virginia
Va. Ct. App. · 2012 · confidence medium
See United States v. Carter, 489 F.3d 528, 536 (2d Cir.2007); United States v. Naranjo, 426 F.3d 221, 231-32 (3rd Cir.2005); United States v. Mashburn, 406 F.3d 303, 309 (4th Cir.2005); United States v. Courtney, 463 F.3d 333, 338 (5th Cir.2006); United States v. Torres-Lona, 491 F.3d 750, 758 (8th Cir.2007); United States v. Williams, 435 F.3d 1148, 1157-58 (9th Cir.2006); United States v. Street, 472 F.3d 1298, 1313 (11th Cir.2006).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Mario Swain v. Rick Thaler, Director (2×) also: Cited "see, e.g."
5th Cir. · 2012 · confidence medium
Courtney, 463 F.3d at 336 (“[A] defendant who voluntarily gives a statement to law enforcement in a noncustodial situation need not be advised of his Miranda rights.” (citing Oregon v. Mathiason, 429 U.S. 492, 495 , 97 S.Ct. 711 , 50 L.Ed.2d 714 (1977))).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Byrom v. Epps
N.D. Miss. · 2011 · confidence medium
See United States v. Nunez-Sanchez, 478 F.3d 663 , 668 n. 1 (5th Cir.2007) (finding Seibert’s holding in Kennedy’s concurrence as it provided the fifth vote for the plurality and was decided on narrower grounds); United States v. Courtney, 463 F.3d 333, 338-39 (5th Cir.2006) (adopting concurring opinion in Seibert).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Pueblo v. Millán Pacheco
prsupreme · 2011 · confidence medium
United States v. Williams, supra, págs. 1157-1158; United States v. Ollie, supra, págs. 1142 (2006); United States v. Courtney, 463 F.3d 333, 338 (5to Cir. 2006); United States v. Mashburn, 406 F.3d 303, 308-309 (4to Cir. 2005).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Shirley McMillan
5th Cir. · 2011 · confidence medium
Third, the district court did not clearly err in determining that McMillan was not in custody during Strause’s interrogation because McMillan has not shown that a “reasonable person in [her] position would have understood the situation to constitute a restraint on freedom of movement of the degree which the law associates with formal arrest.” See United States v. Courtney, 463 F.3d 333, 337 (5th Cir.2006) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Commonwealth v. Charleston
Pa. Super. Ct. · 2011 · confidence medium
See United States v. Torres-Lona, 491 F.3d 750, 758 (8th Cir.2007); United States v. Courtney, 463 F.3d 333, 338 (5th Cir.2006); United States v. Williams, 435 F.3d 1148, 1157-58 (9th Cir.2006); United States v. Street, 472 F.3d 1298, 1313 (11th Cir.2006); United States v. Naranjo, 426 F.3d 221, 231-32 (3rd Cir.2005); United States v. Mashburn, 406 F.3d 303, 308-09 (4th Cir.2005).
examined Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Capers (4×)
2d Cir. · 2010 · confidence medium
Cf. United States v. Street, 472 F.3d 1298, 1312 (11th Cir.2006); United States v. Courtney, 463 F.3d 333, 338 (5th Cir.2006); United States v. Williams, 435 F.3d 1148, 1157 (9th Cir.2006); United States v. Kiam, 432 F.3d 524, 532 (3d Cir.2006); United States v. Hernandez-Hernandez, 384 F.3d 562, 566 (8th Cir. 2004).
cited Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Percy Green
5th Cir. · 2010 · confidence medium
Nunez-Sanchez, 478 F.3d at 668 (quoting United States v. Courtney, 463 F.3d 333, 338 (5th Cir.2006) (citing Seibert, 542 U.S. at 622 , 124 S.Ct. 2601 ) (modifications in original)). 19 .
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Carter, Carl Allen
Tex. Crim. App. · 2010 · confidence medium
App. 2008). 38 See United States v. Nunez-Sanchez, 478 F.3d 663 , 668 n.1 (5th Cir. 2007) (“In Missouri v. Seibert, Justice Kennedy provided the fifth vote in a 5-4 decision, and decided the case on narrower grounds than the majority. ‘It is well established that when we are confronted with a plurality opinion, we look to that position taken by those Members who concurred in the judgments on the narrowest grounds.’ Therefore, we find Seibert’s holding in Justice Kennedy’s opinion concurring in the judgment.”), (quoting United States v. Courtney, 463 F.3d 333, 338 (5th Cir. 2006)); …
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. McLean (2×) also: Cited "see"
5th Cir. · 2010 · confidence medium
A person not formally arrested is deemed to be in custody “when a reasonable person in the suspect’s position would have understood the situation to constitute a restraint on freedom of movement of the degree which the law associates with formal arrest.” United States v. Courtney, 463 F.3d 333, 337 (5th Cir.2006) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).
cited Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Cumberland
5th Cir. · 2010 · confidence medium
See Mathiason, 429 U.S. at 495 , 97 S.Ct. 711 ; United States v. Courtney, 463 F.3d 333, 337 (5th Cir.2006).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Delgado-Arroyo (2×) also: Cited "see"
5th Cir. · 2009 · confidence medium
“Seibert requires the suppression of a post-warning statement only where [the below-described] deliberate two-step strategy is used and no curative measures are taken; where that strategy is not used, ‘the admissibility of postwarning statements continues to be governed by the principles of Elstad.’ ” Nunez-Sanchez, 478 F.3d at 668 (internal alterations omitted) (quoting United States v. Courtney, 463 F.3d 333, 338 (5th Cir.2006)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State v. Gaw
Mo. · 2009 · confidence medium
See also United States v. Carter, 489 F.3d 528, 535 (2d Cir.2007); United States v. Courtney, 463 F.3d 333, 338 (5th Cir.2006); United States v. Ollie, 442 F.3d 1135, 1142 (8th Cir.2006); United States v. Williams, 435 F.3d 1148, 1157-58 (9th Cir.2006); United States v. Kiam, 432 F.3d 524, 532-33 (3d Cir.2006); United States v. Mashburn, 406 F.3d 303, 308-09 (4th Cir.2005); and United States v. Stewart, 388 F.3d 1079, 1090 (7th Cir.2004). 2 The trial court overruled Gaw’s motion to suppress and admitted the testimony.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State v. Hughes
Mo. Ct. App. · 2008 · confidence medium
We accordingly join numerous other courts which have held that Justice Kennedy’s concurring opinion supplies the standard we must apply, since it constitutes the “ ‘position taken by those Members [of the Court] who concurred in the judgments on the narrowest grounds.’ ” Marks, 430 U.S. at 193, 97 S.Ct. 990 (citation omitted); see, e.g., United States v. Carter, 489 F.3d 528, 535 (2d Cir.2007); United States v. Courtney, 463 F.3d 333, 338 (5th Cir.2006); United States v. Ollie, 442 F.3d 1135, 1142 (8th Cir.2006); United States v. Williams, 435 F.3d 1148, 1157-58 (9th Cir.2006); Unite…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Ferguson v. Commonwealth (2×) also: Cited "see, e.g."
Va. Ct. App. · 2008 · confidence medium
See also United States v. Carter, 489 F.3d 528, 535 (2d Cir.2007); United States v. Courtney, 463 F.3d 333, 338 (5th Cir.2006) (”[W]e find Seibert’s holding in Justice Kennedy’s opinion concurring in the judgment.”); United States v. Ollie, 442 F.3d 1135, 1142 (8th Cir.2006); *354 United States v. Williams, 435 F.3d 1148, 1158 (9th Cir.2006) (holding the "narrower test” of Justice Kennedy’s concurrence "represents Seibert’s holding”); United States v. Kiam, 432 F.3d 524, 532-33 (3d Cir.2006) (applying "the Seibert plurality opinion as narrowed by Justice Kennedy”); United Sta…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Pacheco-Lopez (2×)
6th Cir. · 2008 · confidence medium
See United States v. Carter, 489 F.3d 528, 535-36 (2d Cir.2007); United States v. Street, 472 F.3d 1298, 1312-13 (11th Cir.2006); United States v. Courtney, 463 F.3d 333, 338 (5th Cir.2006); United States v. Williams, 435 F.3d 1148, 1157 (9th Cir.2006); United States v. Kiam, 432 F.3d 524, 531-33 (3d Cir.2006); and United States v. Stewart, 388 F.3d 1079, 1090 (7th Cir.2004).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Pacheco-Lopez
6th Cir. · 2008 · confidence medium
See United States v. Carter, 489 F.3d 528, 535-36 (2d Cir. 2007); United States v. Street, 472 F.3d 1298 , 1312- 13 (11th Cir. 2006); United States v. Courtney, 463 F.3d 333, 338 (5th Cir. 2006); United States v. Williams, 435 F.3d 1148, 1157 (9th Cir. 2006); United States v. Kiam, 432 F.3d 524, 531-33 (3d Cir. 2006); and United States v. Stewart, 388 F.3d 1079, 1090 (7th Cir. 2004).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Lopez (2×)
Ill. · 2008 · confidence medium
United States v. Carter, 489 F.3d 528, 535-36 (2d Cir. 2007); United States v. Naranjo, 426 F.3d 221, 231-32 (3d Cir. 2005); United States v. Mashburn, 406 F.3d 303, 308-09 (4th Cir. 2005); United States v. Courtney, 463 F.3d 333, 338 (5th Cir. 2006); United States v. Stewart, 388 F.3d 1079, 1090 (7th Cir. 2004); United States v. Ollie, 442 F.3d 1135, 1142 (8th Cir. 2006); United States v. Williams, 435 F.3d 1148, 1157-58 (9th Cir. 2006); but see United States v. Carrizales-Toledo, 454 F.3d 1142, 1151 (10th Cir. 2006); see also United States v. Capers, No. 06 Cr. 266 (S.D.N.Y.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Lopez
Ill. · 2008 · confidence medium
United States v. Carter, 489 F. 3d 528, 535-36 (2d Cir. 2007); United States v. Naranjo, 426 F.3d 221, 231-32 (3d Cir. 2005); United States v. Mashburn, 406 F.3d 303, 308-09 (4th Cir. 2005); United States v. Courtney, 463 F.3d 333, 338 (5th Cir. 2006); United States v. Stewart, 388 F.3d 1079, 1090 (7th Cir. 2004); United States v. Ollie, 442 F.3d 1135, 1142 (8th Cir. 2006); United States v. Williams, 435 F.3d 1148, 1157-58 (9th Cir. 2006); but see United States v. Carrizales-Toledo, 454 F.3d 1142, 1151 (10th Cir. 2006); see also United States v. Capers, No. 06 Cr. 266 (S.D.N.Y.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Krezdorn (2×) also: Cited "see"
5th Cir. · 2008 · confidence medium
A person not formally arrested is deemed to be in custody “when a reasonable person in the suspect’s position would have understood the situation to constitute a restraint on freedom of movement of the degree which the law associates with formal arrest.” United States v. Courtney, 463 F.3d 333, 337 (5th Cir. 2006) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Krezdorn (2×) also: Cited "see"
5th Cir. · 2007 · confidence medium
A person not formally arrested is deemed to be in custody “when a reasonable person in the suspect’s position would have understood the situation to constitute a restraint on freedom of movement of the degree which the law associates with formal arrest.” United States v. Courtney, 463 F.3d 333, 337 (5th Cir.2006) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Bearam
2d Cir. · 2007 · confidence medium
The District Court should have proceeded solely under 24 Elstad.”); United States v. Courtney, 463 F.3d 333, 338 (5th Cir. 2006) (“Seibert requires the 25 suppression of a post-warning statement only where a deliberate two-step strategy is used and no 26 curative measures are taken; where that strategy is not used, ‘[t]he admissibility of postwarning -9- 1 statements [ ] continue[s] to be governed by the principles of Elstad.’”) (quoting Seibert, 542 2 U.S. at 622 (Kennedy, J., concurring)) (alterations in original); United States v. Williams, 435 3 F.3d 1148, 1157 (9th Cir. 2006) (s…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Johnny Carter, Micheal Bearam (2×)
2d Cir. · 2007 · confidence medium
The District Court should have proceeded solely under Elstad." ); United States v. Courtney, 463 F.3d 333, 338 (5th Cir.2006) (" Seibert requires the suppression of a post-warning statement only where a deliberate two-step strategy is used and no curative measures are taken; where that strategy is not used, `[t]he admissibility of postwarning statements [ ] continue[s] to be governed by the principles of Elstad . '") (quoting Seibert, 542 U.S. at 622 , 124 S.Ct. 2601 (Kennedy, J., concurring)) (alterations in original); United States v. Williams, 435 F.3d 1148, 1157 (9th Cir. 2006) (stating th…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Nunez-Sanchez (2×)
5th Cir. · 2007 · confidence medium
We recently interpreted the relationship between Seibert and Elstad by stating, “Seibert requires the suppression of a post-warning statement only where a deliberate two-step strategy is used and no curative measures are taken; where that strategy is not used, ‘[t]he admissibility of postwarning statements [] continuéis] to be governed by the principles of Elstad.’ ” United States v. Courtney, 463 F.3d 333, 338 (5th Cir.2006) (citing Seibert, 542 U.S. at 622 , 124 S.Ct. 2601 ) (modifications in original).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Raul Adam Martinez, Jr. v. State (2×) also: Cited "see, e.g."
Tex. App. · 2006 · confidence medium
See Hernandez , 2006 U.S. App. LEXIS 23258 , at *7 n.1 (citing Marks v. United States , 430 U.S. 188, 193 (1977) ("When a fragmented Court decides a case and no single rationale explaining the result enjoys the assent of five Justices, the holding of the Court may be viewed as that position taken by those Members who concurred in the judgments on the narrowest grounds.")); United States v. Courtney , 463 F.3d 333, 338 (5th Cir. 2006); United States v. Williams , 435 F.3d 1148, 1157 (9th Cir. 2006 ); United States v. Naranjo , 426 F.3d 221, 231 (3rd Cir. 2005).
examined Cited as authority (rule) Martinez v. State (4×) also: Cited "see, e.g."
Tex. App. · 2006 · confidence medium
LEXIS 23258, at *7 n. 1 (citing Marks v. United States, 430 U.S. 188, 193 , 97 S.Ct. 990 , 51 L.Ed.2d 260 (1977) ("When a fragmented Court decides a case and no single rationale explaining the result enjoys the assent of five Justices, the holding of the Court may be viewed as that position taken by those Members who concurred in the judgments on the narrowest grounds.”)); United States v. Courtney, 463 F.3d 333, 338 (5th Cir.2006); United States v. Williams, 435 F.3d 1148, 1157 (9th Cir.2006); United States v. Naranjo, 426 F.3d 221, 231 (3rd Cir.2005).
discussed Cited "see" Peo v. Quinlan
Colo. Ct. App. · 2025 · signal: see · confidence high
See United States v. Courtney, 463 F.3d 333, 337 (5th Cir. 2006) (an analysis under Seibert is unnecessary when the suspect wasn’t in custody for Miranda purposes). 16 two analyses don’t duplicate one another, and custody is only one factor to consider when assessing a statement’s voluntariness.
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellant,
v.
Cherie Marie COURTNEY, Defendant-Appellee
05-30156.
Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
Aug 30, 2006.
463 F.3d 333
M. Patricia Jones, Asst. U.S. Atty. (argued), Baton Rouge, LA, for U.S., James Phillip Manasseh. (argued), Manasseh, Gill, Joubert & Rothkamm, Baton Rouge, LA, for Courtney.
Smith, Stewart, Crane.
Cited by 82 opinions  |  Published
CARL E. STEWART, Circuit Judge:

The United States appeals from the district court’s grant of Cherie Marie Courtney’s motion to suppress statements she made to federal investigators. Relying on Missouri v. Seibert, 542 U.S. 600, 124 S.Ct. 2601, 159 L.Ed.2d 643 (2004), and Oregon v. Elstad, 470 U.S. 298, 105 S.Ct. 1285, 84 L.Ed.2d 222 (1985), Courtney asserted that the agents’ tactic of obtaining inculpatory statements was designed to bypass Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 16 L.Ed.2d 694 (1966). For the following reasons, we reverse.

I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

Cherie Marie Courtney was indicted on two counts of perjury arising out of testimony she gave in the trial of Shawn Kil-garlin on charges that Kilgarlin fabricated drug tests for two employees of Anderson Industrial Scaffolding Services (“AIS”). According to the indictment, Courtney gave false testimony that (1) she worked at AIS at the time that Kilgarlin was alleged to have committed the fraud, and (2) that Kilgarlin picked up a check from AIS for the testing. Kilgarlin was acquitted of one count of mail fraud relating to the check about which Courtney testified.

Relying on Missouri v. Seibert, 542 U.S. 600, 124 S.Ct. 2601, 159 L.Ed.2d 643 (2004), and Oregon v. Elstad, 470 U.S. 298, 105 S.Ct. 1285, 84 L.Ed.2d 222 (1985), Courtney moved to suppress three statements that she gave to the federal investigators, alleging that they were inadmissible because they were obtained in violation of Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S.Ct. 1602,16 L.Ed.2d 694 (1966).

The district court held a suppression hearing at which Agent Gregory McDowell of the Environmental Protection Agency testified regarding the investigation into Courtney’s perjury. He testified that he and Agent Wayne White conducted three interviews with Courtney. The first interview took place on November 5, 2003. McDowell called Courtney and requested a meeting at her house, but Courtney proposed meeting at a McDonald’s restaurant instead. The agents explained that they wanted to talk to her about whether her testimony at Kilgarlin’s trial was false. They also wanted to determine why she had given the testimony. McDowell testified that prior to the meeting, he had already concluded that Courtney’s testimony was false based on his discovery that she was not employed at AIS at the time she stated. During this meeting, Courtney was not told that she did not have to talk to the agents, that she could leave, or that she could hire a lawyer; however, she was not told that she was required to talk to them or that she could not leave. The agents made no threats or promises and they were not in uniform. The interview lasted approximately one hour.

A week later, on November 13, 2003, the agents went to Courtney’s job site to interview her again. They did not contact her prior to arriving. The interview lasted approximately forty-five minutes to an hour and took place in an unoccupied room. As with the first interview, the agents did not tell her she was free to leave, that she did not have to talk to[*336] them, or that she could call a lawyer, but they also did not tell her that she was not free to leave or that she had to talk to the them. The agents again asked why she had given false testimony and discussed whether she was paid to lie.

Courtney was indicted on November 18, 2004, and a warrant was issued for her arrest. On November 19, 2004, McDowell contacted Courtney and said that he needed to serve papers on her. Because Courtney did not want the agents to come to her job site, she volunteered to come to McDowell’s office. When she arrived, McDowell informed her that she had been indicted for perjury and that she was under arrest. He then advised her of her Miranda rights. Courtney responded that she did not need an attorney and was willing to talk. The agents then conducted a third interview, addressing the same information as the first two.

The district court concluded that the evidence was inadmissible because the intent of the officers was to avoid the requirements of Miranda. The court explained that the first two interviews were unnecessary because the agents already knew that she had committed perjury. Accordingly, the court granted Courtney’s motion to suppress. The United States timely filed its notice of appeal.

II. DISCUSSION

“In considering a ruling on a motion to suppress, we review the district court’s factual findings for clear error and its legal conclusions ... de novo.” United States v. Chavez, 281 F.3d 479, 483 (5th Cir.2002). We view the evidence in the light most favorable to the party that prevailed in the district court, here, Courtney. Id.

The United States argues that the district court erred in concluding that the first two interviews were custodial and that the third statement should be excluded based on Seibert. It contends that Seibert does not apply because the first two statements were not obtained in violation of Miranda. It further argues that even if Seibert were applicable, the time lapse between the first two interviews and the third was sufficient to render the Miranda warnings effective. Contrary to the United States’ assertion, the district court did not make a finding that Courtney was in custody. Instead, the court ruled that all three statements were inadmissible because the first two interviews were part of an interrogation procedure designed to circumvent Miranda, a tactic proscribed by Seibert. Nevertheless, we agree with the United States’ argument that Seibert only applies if the first statements were obtained in violation of Miranda.

In Miranda, the Supreme Court held that, in order to preserve the privilege against self-incrimination, law enforcement officials must inform a suspect in custody of his right to remain silent, that any statement he makes may be used as evidence against him, and that he has a right to retained or appointed counsel. Miranda, 384 U.S. at 444, 86 S.Ct. 1602. Generally, statements obtained during a custodial interrogation without providing adequate warnings under Miranda are inadmissible. Seibert, 542 U.S. at 608, 124 S.Ct. 2601. But a defendant who voluntarily gives a statement to law enforcement in a non-custodial situation need not be advised of his Miranda rights. See Oregon v. Mathiason, 429 U.S. 492, 495, 97 S.Ct. 711, 50 L.Ed.2d 714 (1977).

In Seibert, the Supreme Court addressed:

a police protocol for custodial interrogation that calls for giving no warnings of the rights to silence and counsel until interrogation has produced a confession.[*337] Although such a statement is generally inadmissible, since taken in violation of Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 16 L.Ed.2d 694 (1966), the interrogating officer follows it with Miranda warnings and then leads the suspect to cover the same ground a second time. The question here is the admissibility of the repeated statement.

Seibert, 542 U.S. at 604, 124 S.Ct. 2601. Thus Seibert only addressed the admissibility of the second, warned statement; the first statement was inadmissable.

In United States v. Kiam, 432 F.3d 524, 531 (3d Cir.2006), cert. denied, — U.S. —, 126 S.Ct. 1453, 164 L.Ed.2d 149 (2006), the Third Circuit considered whether Seibert applied when the first interrogation did not violate Miranda. There, the defendant was questioned by Customs and Border Protection about whether he knew certain Chinese nationals traveling on the same airplane. Id. at 526-27. The district court denied the defendant’s motion to suppress holding that the defendant should have been given Miranda warnings during the first interrogation, but that the taint did not extend to the post-Miranda confession. Id. at 527. The Third Circuit disagreed that Miranda warnings were required before the first statement; consequently, it concluded no Seibert or Elstad analysis was required. Id. at 530-31. Likewise, in the instant case, the district court was required to determine whether Miranda warnings were required prior to Courtney’s first two statements before considering the applicability of Seibert. Accord Kiam, 432 F.3d at 531. Because the record is well developed on this issue, we consider whether Courtney was in custody during the first two interviews.

A suspect is “in custody” for purposes of Miranda “when placed under formal arrest or when a reasonable person in the suspect’s position would have understood the situation to constitute a restraint on freedom of movement of the degree which the law associates with formal arrest.” United States v. Bengivenga, 845 F.2d 593, 596 (5th Cir.1988) (en banc). With respect to the first interview, Courtney voluntarily agreed to meet with the agents at a location of her choice, a public restaurant. She was not told that she was not free to leave, nor was she told that she had to meet with the agents. The agents did not display their weapons, they were not in uniform, and at the end of the interview, Courtney left. As for the second interview, Courtney was at her place of employment. Again, however, she was not told that she had to cooperate or grant an iiiterview, she was not told that she could not leave, and she was allowed to continue conducting business. On the facts presented here, Courtney was not in custody during either interview because a reasonable person would not have believed her freedom was restricted to the degree associated with a formal arrest. See Mat-hiason, 429 U.S. at 495, 97 S.Ct. 711 (holding that a suspect was not in custody where suspect voluntarily came to patrol office after officer requested a meeting, officer advised defendant that he wanted to talk about a burglary and that he believed the suspect was involved, suspect spoke with officer for half an hour, and at end of interview, suspect was released to leave); see also United States v. Pofahl, 990 F.2d 1456, 1487 (5th Cir.1993) (holding that a suspect who invited police officers into his home and voluntarily discussed with officers his involvement in narcotics conspiracy did not first have to be advised of his Miranda warnings as he was not in custody). Consequently, because the first two statements were not obtained in violation of Miranda, the district court erred in applying Seibert. Cf. Kiam, 432 F.3d at 531.

[*338] Nevertheless, assuming arguendo that Courtney were in custody during the first two interviews and thus, a Seibert or Elstad analysis were required, we hold that the curative measures mandated by those cases were satisfied. In Elstad, the Supreme Court held that “[a] subsequent administration of Miranda warnings to a suspect who has given a voluntary but unwarned statement ordinarily should suffice to remove the conditions that precluded admission of the earlier statement.” Elstad, 470 U.S. at 314, 105 S.Ct. 1285. Under Elstad, “[t]he relevant inquiry is whether, in fact, the second statement was also voluntarily made. As in any such inquiry, the finder of fact must examine the surrounding circumstances and the entire course of police conduct with respect to the suspect in evaluating the voluntariness of his statements.” Elstad, 470 U.S. at 318,105 S.Ct. 1285.

As explained above, Seibert addressed the constitutionality of a police tactic called “question first,” that calls for withholding Miranda warnings during an interrogation until the suspect gives a confession. Seibert, 542 U.S. at 605-06, 610-11, 124 S.Ct. 2601 (plurality opinion). In Seibert, a four-justice plurality ruled that Seibert’s post-warning statements were inadmissible. Id. at 614-17, 124 S.Ct. 2601. The plurality crafted a multi-factor test for determining “whether Miranda warnings delivered midstream” could be effective. Id. at 615, 124 S.Ct. 2601. Justice Kennedy provided the fifth concurring vote for affirming the suppression of the post-warning statements but felt that the multifactor test cut too broadly. Id. at 621-22, 124 S.Ct. 2601 (Kennedy, J., concurring in judgment). Under Justice Kennedy’s test,

postwarning statements that are related to the substance of prewarning statements must be excluded unless curative measures are taken before the post-warning statement is made. Curative measures should be designed to ensure that a reasonable person in the suspect’s situation would understand the import and effect of the Miranda warning and of the Miranda waiver. For example, a substantial break in time and circumstances between the prewarning statement and the Miranda warning may suffice in most circumstances, as it allows the accused to distinguish the two contexts and appreciate that the interrogation has taken a new turn.

Id. at 622, 124 S.Ct. 2601. “It is well established that when we are confronted with a plurality opinion, we ‘look to that position taken by those Members who concurred in the judgments on the narrowest grounds.’ ” Pedcor Mgmt. Co., Inc. Welfare Benefit Plan v. Nations Personnel of Tex., Inc. 343 F.3d 355, 358 (5th Cir.2003) (internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting Campbell v. St. Tammany Parish Sch. Bd., 64 F.3d 184, 189 (5th Cir.1995)). Therefore, we find Seibert’s holding in Justice Kennedy’s opinion concurring in the judgment. Accord United States v. Williams, 435 F.3d 1148, 1157 (9th Cir. 2006); (explaining that the holding of Sei-bert is found in Justice Kennedy’s opinion concurring in judgment); United States v. Naranjo, 426 F.3d 221, 231 (3d Cir.2005) (same). Seibert requires the suppression of a post-warning statement only where a deliberate two-step strategy is used and no curative measures are taken; where that strategy is not used, “[t]he admissibility of postwarning statements [] eontinue[s] to be governed by the principles of Elstad.” Seibert, 542 U.S. at 622, 124 S.Ct. 2601 (Kennedy, J., concurring in judgment). Consequently, if the district court determined that Courtney’s first two statements were obtained in violation of Miranda, the next inquiry would have been whether a deliberate two-step strategy was used. Accord Kiam, 432 F.3d at 532 (explaining[*339] that if the suspect’s first statement had been improperly unwarned, the district court should have first determined, under Seibert, whether the violation was a deliberate two-step interrogation process and, if it was not, then it must decide whether it was admissible under Elstad).

Although the district court did not make a finding that Courtney was in custody during the first two interviews, the court held that the officers deliberately avoided Miranda’s requirements. Assuming arguendo that the first interviews were obtained in violation of Miranda, we need not decide whether the practice at issue would constitute a deliberate two step process because the passage of time between the first two statements and the third post-Miramia statement is sufficient to ensure that the Miranda warnings served their purpose and that Courtney’s statement was voluntary under the tests announced in both Elstad and Seibert. In contrast to Seibert, it would not be reasonable to regard the sessions “as parts of a continuum, in which it would have been unnatural to refuse to repeat at the second stage what had been said before.” Seibert, 542 U.S. at 616, 124 S.Ct. 2601 (plurality opinion) (distinguishing Elstad). A reasonable person would have concluded that the third interview, given more than one year later and in an entirely different setting, was not a continuation of the earlier interrogation but a “new and distinct experience” that would allow the Miranda warnings to function effectively and present a real choice “whether to follow up on the earlier admission.” Id. at 615-16, 124 S.Ct. 2601. We hold that even if the first two statements were obtained in violation of Miranda, the two year lapse between those unwarned statements and the third, warned statement is sufficient to render the Miranda warnings effective and Courtney’s third statement voluntary. See Seibert, 542 U.S. at 622, 124 S.Ct. 2601 (Kennedy, J., concurring in judgment); Elstad, 470 U.S. at 318, 105 S.Ct. 1285. Accordingly, the district court erred in concluding that Seibert required the suppression of Courtney’s statements.

III. CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons we REVERSE the judgment of the district court and REMAND for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.