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Court: Suspects Must Specifically Ask for Lawyer

By AP

Nashville, TN – The Tennessee Supreme Court has ruled that suspects being interrogated by police must be explicit in their request for a lawyer, and not just talk about getting one, if they don't want anything they say to be used against them. The court ruled unanimously last week in a case where a murder suspect repeatedly asked police when his lawyer would be present before being questioned, but never explicitly asked for one. The suspect went so far as to ask for his cell phone, which had an attorney's number. The court has decided the suspect waived his right to an attorney after detectives asked if he'd agree to speak without one present.