A defendant is charged with a felony and is called to participate in a police lineup. The lineup occurs after the defendant has been formally charged, and their attorney is not notified of the lineup in advance. During the lineup, a witness identifies the defendant as the perpetrator. The defendant later moves to suppress the witness's identification on the grounds that their constitutional rights were violated. Which argument best supports the defendant's claim?
The right to remain silent and to be presumed innocent applies to police lineups, forcing participation is a violation of these rights.
The defendant's Sixth Amendment right to counsel attaches after formal charges and applies to post-charge lineups, which are considered a critical stage of prosecution.
The right to counsel applies to trial proceedings and does not extend to pretrial procedures like lineups.
Police lineups conducted after formal charges are admissible, as they are not classified as improper interrogations.
The correct answer focuses on the principle that the Sixth Amendment guarantees the right to counsel at all critical stages of a criminal prosecution, which includes post-indictment lineups. A critical stage is one where the defendant's rights can be meaningfully asserted with the assistance of counsel or may be jeopardized without such assistance. At a post-charge lineup, the presence of counsel ensures that the lineup is conducted fairly and prevents undue prejudice to the defendant. The other answers misapply or misunderstand the protections provided by the Sixth Amendment or fail to recognize the distinction between pre-charge and post-charge procedural rights.
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What is considered a 'critical stage' in criminal proceedings?
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Why does the Sixth Amendment right to counsel attach after formal charges are filed?
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How does the presence of counsel prevent prejudice during a lineup?
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Multistate Bar Examination
Criminal Law and Procedure
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