California, United States of America
The following excerpt is from People v. Roberts, 403 P.2d 411, 45 Cal.Rptr. 155, 63 Cal.2d 84 (Cal. 1965):
'Heretofore the courts have thought that 'the serious and weighty responsibility' of making a determination as to whether there was a waiver of a substantial right was lodged in the trial judge. (Johnson v. Zerbst, 304 U.S. 458, 465, 58 S.Ct. 1019, 82 L.Ed. 1461.) Now, apparently, the policeman is supposed to make the determination as to whether and when the suspect makes an intelligent and knowledgeable waiver. The simple stating of the proposition makes it clear that the successful interrogation of suspects will be next to impossible under any such rule.
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