Brief Fact Summary.

 The petitioner Danny Escobedo asked to speak with his lawyer

while in police custody but before being formally charged and was denied.

Synopsis of Rule of Law. Not allowing someone to speak with an attorney, and not
advising them of their right to remain silent after they have been arrested and before
they have been interrogated is a denial of assistance of counsel under the Sixth
Amendment.

Facts. After being arrested and taken into police custody as a suspect in the murder of
his brother-in-law, the petitioner asked to speak to his attorney. His attorney arrived at
police headquarters soon after the petitioner did and was not allowed to speak to his
client as the officers said they had not completed questioning. The petitioner also was
not warned of his right to remain silent before the interrogation. He was convicted of
murder and the Supreme Court of Illinois affirmed. He was then granted certiorari.

Issue. If a suspect has been taken into police custody and interrogated by police
without their request to see an attorney being honored, nor being advised of their right
to remain silent, have they been denied effective assistance of counsel under the Sixth
Amendment?