SCOTUS Comparison: Miranda v. Arizona and Furman v. Georgia

In the landmark Supreme Court cases of Miranda v. Arizona (1966) and Furman v. Georgia (1972), the Court addressed critical issues related to individual rights and the limits of government power.

In Miranda v. Arizona, the Court determined that the Fifth Amendment protects individuals from self-incrimination during police interrogations. The case centered on Ernesto Miranda, who confessed to crimes without being informed of his rights, leading to a subsequent decision that established the requirement for law enforcement to inform individuals of their rights.

In Furman v. Georgia, the Court ruled that the death penalty, as administered in that case, constituted cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the Eighth Amendment. The case arose from William Furman’s accidental killing of a resident while committing a burglary and his subsequent death sentence.

Compare and contrast the case facts of Miranda v. Arizona and Furman v. Georgia in terms of the contexts that led to the Supreme Court decisions and the broader implications for civil liberties in the United States. Your response should include a discussion of the facts of each case, how those facts influenced the Court's reasoning, and the legal precedents established as a result.