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STATEMENT BY ATTORNEY GENERAL JANET RENO

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Supreme Court today ruled that police officers must continue advising arrested suspects about their rights to remain silent and to have an attorney present, if the suspect's confession is to be used in court. In writing for the Court, Chief Justice William Rehnquist said the 1966 Miranda case -- which established this precedent -- set a ''constitutional rule that Congress may not supersede'' and he added that the justices declined to overrule the Miranda case themselves. Attorney General Janet Reno issued the following statement hailing the 7-2 decision:

"I am so pleased that the Supreme Court has reaffirmed a longstanding and workable practice of police officers advising those they arrest of their right to remain silent.

"Today's decision recognizes Miranda rights has been good for law enforcement. For decades, the Miranda ruling set out clear standards for police officers, helped get confessions admitted into evidence, and ensured the credibility of confessions in the eyes of jurors. Most importantly, it will continue to provide a public sense of fairness in our criminal justice system.

"To be just, we cannot simply prosecute wrongs and ignore the rights of Americans. We must prosecute wrongs and respect the rights of Americans -- and today's decision makes it clear as to how we must go about doing that.

"Every citizen has the right to remain silent and to have a lawyer present during interrogation. These are constitutional rights and the Supreme Court has now reaffirmed the fact that citizens must be advised of those rights when they are most vulnerable. The Court's 1966 Miranda ruling meant that when police officers fail to do this they may not use any statement to prove the citizen's guilt. We are pleased the Supreme Court agreed that the rule should not be changed."

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