Hiibel vs 6th Judicial Court centers around identifying oneself. The case, linked below, is about the constitutionality of a Nevada statute requiring one to identify himself to a cop under certain conditions.
The Kennedy, writing for the majority, explains that in court the defendant must be known--according to their logic anyway. Check out the opinion. It talks about the government's reasons and interests. Which all sound a little like hooey because of one important little fact: the government has the live body.
It doesn't matter what his name is. The government can still try him and convict him and hold him through his sentence. It doesn't matter what name is attached to the live body; they can still carry out everything against him except chase up a fine if he refuses to pay.
But, there is a bigger issue. Government otherwise having the ability to "disappear" people. As in certain South American countries in the past. This is not a good thing.
As an American, I want to be able to know about it when government seizes one of my fellow citizens. I want to be able to know who they seized, why they seized him. And, just as important, I want to know
who seized him--government. Not have it happen that one day, Joe just stops showing up at the lunchroom table, you know.
I don't recall seeing much about that in
Hiibel.
Nonetheless, I think its a good thing if we know who is arrested and jailed, for the most important reason of all--keeping an eye on government.
Hiibel court case:
http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/03-5554.ZO.html
You can actually watch the police stop that turned into
Hiibel vs 6th Judicial District Court. The police dashcam of the encounter is on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dFRrFvuGsc