James Joseph Duane (born July 30, 1959) is an American law professor at the Regent University School of Law, former criminal defense attorney, and Fifth Amendment expert. Duane has received considerable online attention for his lecture "Don't Talk to the Police", in which he advises citizens to avoid incriminating themselves by speaking to law enforcement officers. He received both his bachelor's degree and Juris Doctor degree from Harvard University.
Contents
Early life and education
Duane was born in Buffalo, New York. He is a descendant of the Revolutionary-era leader Judge James Duane.
Educated at Harvard University, Duane received a Bachelor of Arts magna cum laude in philosophy in 1981 and a Juris Doctor cum laude in 1984. Duane was elected to the Phi Beta Kappa honor society when he was an undergraduate student at Harvard.
"Don't Talk to the Police" lecture
In 2008, Duane gave a lecture at Regent University alongside Virginia Beach Police Department officer George Bruch, in which they explain in practical terms why US citizens should never talk to police under any circumstances.