Griffin v. California

380 U.S. 609 · Decided April 28, 1965 · Supreme Court of the United States

At a glance

Griffin v. California was decided on April 28, 1965 by a vote of 6–2. The Court reversed the lower court's decision. Justice William O. Douglas wrote the opinion of the Court. SCDB classifies its main issue as “Self-incrimination (general)” in the Criminal Procedure area.

Read the opinion

• CourtListener (Free Law Project) — opinion text
• Library of Congress — official U.S. Reports scan

Case details

How the Justices voted

Did not participate: Earl Warren.

Full case caption

Griffin v. California

SCDB identifiers: case 1964-086, docket 1964-086-01.

Related decisions

Other cases on “Self-incrimination (general)”

• United States v. Gainey
  380 U.S. 63Decided March 1, 19657–2Potter Stewart
• Malloy v. HoganAltered precedent
  378 U.S. 1Decided June 15, 19645–4William J. Brennan Jr.
• United States v. Blue
  384 U.S. 251Decided May 23, 19669–0John M. Harlan II
• Schmerber v. California
  384 U.S. 757Decided June 20, 19665–4William J. Brennan Jr.
• O'Connor v. Ohio
  385 U.S. 92Decided November 14, 19669–0Per curiam
• Garrity v. New Jersey
  385 U.S. 493Decided January 16, 19675–4William O. Douglas

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Cases on the same legal provision: Fifth Amendment (self-incrimination)

• Stevens v. Marks
  383 U.S. 234Decided February 28, 19667–2William O. Douglas
• Miranda v. ArizonaAltered precedent
  384 U.S. 436Decided June 13, 19665–4Earl Warren
• United States v. Wade
  388 U.S. 218Decided June 12, 19675–4William J. Brennan Jr.
• Gilbert v. California
  388 U.S. 263Decided June 12, 19676–3William J. Brennan Jr.
• Harrison v. United States
  392 U.S. 219Decided June 10, 19686–3Potter Stewart
• Gardner v. Broderick
  392 U.S. 273Decided June 10, 19689–0Abe Fortas

Same Term, same area (Criminal Procedure)

• Boles v. Stevenson
  379 U.S. 43Decided November 16, 19649–0Per curiam
• Beck v. Ohio
  379 U.S. 89Decided November 23, 19646–3Potter Stewart
• Turner v. Louisiana
  379 U.S. 466Decided January 18, 19658–1Potter Stewart
• Stanford v. TexasLaw held unconstitutional
  379 U.S. 476Decided January 18, 19659–0Potter Stewart
• Singer v. United States
  380 U.S. 24Decided March 1, 19659–0Earl Warren
• United States v. Gainey
  380 U.S. 63Decided March 1, 19657–2Potter Stewart

See all

Source: Supreme Court Database, 2026 Release 01 (data file dated September 8, 2026). Imported into CaseTrail November 5, 2026. Coverage: decisions from the 1946 through 2025 Terms. Methodology · Report an error