2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
ON THE RECORD · 5 verbatim quotes · every quote source-verified
“Hernandez, who has a documented history of mental illnesses and a low intelligence quotient ('IQ'), initially confessed after approximately seven hours of unwarned questioning by three police officers,”
2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals · said 2025-07-21 · reported 2025-07-21
The appeals court noted Pedro Hernandez's mental health history and interrogation circumstances in its ruling.
“Immediately after Hernandez confessed, the police administered Miranda warnings, began a video recording, and had Hernandez repeat his confession on tape. He did so again, several hours later, to an Assistant District Attorney ('ADA'). At trial, the prosecution discussed and played these videos repeatedly.”
2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals · said 2025-07-21 · reported 2025-07-21
The appeals court described the sequence of police interrogations and videotaped confessions in its decision.
“The third note asked the trial court to ‘explain’ whether, if the jury found that Hernandez’s un-Mirandized confession ‘was not voluntary,’ it ‘must disregard’ the later confessions, including the videotaped confessions at the local Camden County Prosecutor’s Office ('CCPO') and the Manhattan District Attorney’s ('DA’s') Office.”
2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals · said 2025-07-21 · reported 2025-07-21
The appeals court highlighted a specific jury question concerning the voluntariness of Pedro Hernandez's confessions.
“We conclude that the state trial court contradicted clearly established federal law and that this error was not harmless,”
2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals · said 2025-07-21 · reported 2025-07-21
A federal appeals court panel ruled to overturn the conviction of Pedro Hernandez in the 1979 murder of Etan Patz.
“When deliberating during his second trial, the jury sent the judge three different notes about Hernandez’s confessions,”
2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals · said 2025-07-21 · reported 2025-07-21
The court's ruling reviewed the jury notes submitted during deliberations in Pedro Hernandez's second trial.