LAWYER UP AND SHUT UP!

[Image of the U.S. Constitution from wikipedia]

Let's assume, hypothetically, that you have been approached by a federal agent who wants to interrogate you about alleged crimes.  Do you know which Amendments to the Constitution guarantee your rights to "lawyer up and shut up?"

The Fifth Amendment guarantees you the right not to say anything which would incriminate
you.

The Sixth Amendment has been interpreted by the courts to guarantee you the right to counsel.

These are the important Constitutional Amendments and rights which allow each of us to "lawyer up and shut up!"

A Right To Counsel Or A Right To One Phone Call?

[Photo from telephone-directory.info]

We have seen it in all the movies and t.v. crime shows:  A citizen gets arrested by the police and immediately demands his or her "right to one phone call!"  But have you ever considered the fact that the United States Constitution actually does NOT give you the right to a phone call.  Instead, the Sixth Amendment actually gives you the right to counsel and, in order to exercise that right, as a practical matter, it generally becomes necessary to use a telephone to call (and retain) a criminal lawyer.

So, if, God forbid, you get arrested, please don't demand your "right" to one phone call!  Instead, ask if you may use the telephone in order to call a lawyer.  After all, if you only have the right to just one telephone call, what will you do if all the phones at The Goolsby Law Firm, LLC are busy?!