Case Title: In Re: Standard Jury Instructions In Criminal Cases – Report No. 2008-03 (And 2008-06)

Citation: 

Docket Number: SC08-490

State: florida

Court: Florida Supreme Court

Date: 2008-11-26T00:00:00Z

Document:
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Supreme Court of Florida  
No. SC08-490 
IN RE: STANDARD JURY INSTRUCTIONS IN CRIMINAL CASES—  
REPORT NO. 2008-03.  
No. SC08-1487 
IN RE: STANDARD JURY INSTRUCTIONS IN CRIMINAL CASES—  
REPORT NO. 2008-06.  
[November 26, 2008] 
PER CURIAM. 
The Supreme Court Committee on Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal 
Cases (Committee) has submitted two proposed standard jury instructions, 21.1 – 
Resisting Officer with Violence (in Case No. SC08-490) and 21.2 – Resisting 
Officer without Violence (in Case No. SC08-1487).  We requested that the 
Committee propose revisions to the instructions in light of our opinion in Polite v. 
State, 973 So. 2d 1107 (Fla. 2007).  In Polite, we concluded that “knowledge of the 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
officer’s status is an essential element of the crime of resisting an officer with 
violence under section 843.01[, Florida Statutes (2002)].”  973 So. 2d at 1118.  The 
Committee requests that we authorize the revised standard instructions for 
publication and use.  We have jurisdiction. See art. V, § 2(a), Fla. Const. 
In April 2007, the Committee proposed amendments to instruction 21.2 in a 
previous case (Case No. SC07-705) in which we declined to authorize the 
instruction for publication and use.  Later, we referred instruction 21.2 back to the 
Committee for consideration in light of Polite. The Committee revised instruction 
21.2 and published its proposal in the April 1, 2008, edition of The Florida Bar 
News. One comment was submitted to the Committee.  The Committee filed a 
separate report proposing revised amendments to instruction 21.2, which was 
assigned case number SC08-1487. 
In March 2008, the Committee filed majority and minority reports 
addressing revisions to instruction 21.1, which were assigned case number SC08­
490.  Because those revisions had not been published for comments, the Court 
published the proposal for comments in the April 15, 2008, edition of The Florida 
Bar News.  One comment was filed with the Court.  The Committee filed a 
response along with a proposed amended revision to instruction 21.1. 
The Committee later moved for consolidation of case numbers SC08-490 
and SC08-1487, requesting that we consider these revised proposed instructions 
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together.  The motion for consolidation was granted.  Having considered the 
reports and comments on the revised instructions, we hereby authorize the 
publication and use of instructions 21.1 and 21.2 as set forth in the appendix 
attached to this opinion.  In doing so, we express no opinion on the correctness of 
the instructions and remind all interested parties that this authorization forecloses 
neither requesting additional or alternative instructions nor contesting the legal 
correctness of the instructions.  We further caution all interested parties that any 
notes and comments associated with the instructions reflect only the views of the 
Committee and are not necessarily indicative of the views of this Court as to their 
correctness or applicability. 
New language is indicated by underlining, and deleted language is struck 
through.  The instructions as set forth in the appendix1 shall be effective when this 
opinion becomes final. 
It is so ordered. 
QUINCE, C.J., and WELLS, ANSTEAD, PARIENTE, LEWIS, and CANADY, 
JJ., concur. 
1. The amendments as reflected in the appendix are to the Standard Jury 
Instructions in Criminal Cases as they appear on the Court’s website at 
www.floridasupremecourt.org/jury_instructions/instructions.shtml.  We recognize 
that there may be minor discrepancies between the instructions as they appear on 
the website and the published versions of the instructions.  Any discrepancies as to 
instructions authorized for publication and use after October 18, 2007, should be 
resolved by reference to the published opinion of this Court authorizing the 
instruction. 
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POLSTON, J., did not participate. 
NOT FINAL UNTIL TIME EXPIRES TO FILE REHEARING MOTION, AND  
IF FILED, DETERMINED.  
Two Cases:  
Original Proceedings – Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases  
Judge Terry David Terrell, Chair, Supreme Court Committee on Standard Jury  
Instructions in Criminal Cases, First Judicial Circuit, Pensacola, Florida,  
for Petitioner 
Judge Barbara Areces, Eleventh Judicial Circuit, Miami, Florida, 
Responding with comments 
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APPENDIX  
21.1 RESISTING OFFICER WITH VIOLENCE 
§ 843.01, Fla. Stat. 
To prove the crime of Resisting Officer with Violence, the State must 
prove the following three four elements beyond a reasonable doubt: 
1.  
(Defendant) knowingly and willfully [resisted] [obstructed] 
[opposed] (victim) by [offering to do [him] [her] violence] [doing 
violence to [him] [her]]. 
2.  
At the time, (victim) was engaged in the [execution of legal process] 
[lawful execution of a legal duty]. 
3.  
At the time, (victim) was [an officer]][a person legally authorized 
to execute process]. 
4.  
At the time, (Defendant) knew (victim) was [an officer]  
[a person legally authorized to execute process].  
In giving the instruction below, insert the class of officer to which the victim 
belongs, e.g., law enforcement officer, correctional officer.  See Wright v. State, 
586 So. 2d 1024 (Fla. 1991). See §843.01 Fla. Stat. for the type of officer covered 
by this statute. 
The court now instructs you that every (name of official position of 
victim designated in charge) is an officer within the meaning of this law. 
In giving this instruction, do not refer to the victim by name.  The instruction 
must state the class of officers to which the victim belongs, e.g., probation officer, 
correctional officer.  See Wright v. State, 586 So.2d 1024 (Fla. 1991). 
The court further instructs you that (read duty being performed from 
charge) constitutes [execution of legal process] [lawful execution of a legal 
duty]. 
In giving this instruction, refer only to the type of duty or legal process that 
was being performed, e.g., making an arrest, serving a subpoena, serving a 
domestic violence order.  See Hierro v. State, 608 So.2d 912 (Fla. 3d DCA 1992). 
Note to Judge: 
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A special instruction incorporating §776.051(1) Fla. Stat. should be given 
when the defense claims the officer was acting unlawfully. 
A special instruction incorporating instructions 3.6(f); 3.6(g); and/or 3.6(h) 
should be given when the defense claims the police used excessive force. 
Definition. Give if  applicable. 
“Offering” to do violence means threatening to do violence. 
Walker v. State, 965 So. 2d 1281 (Fla. 2nd DCA 2007). 
Lesser Included Offenses 
RESISTING OFFICER WITH VIOLENCE — 843.01 
CATEGORY ONE 
CATEGORY TWO 
FLA. STAT. 
INS. NO. 
None 
Resisting officer 
without violence 
843.02 
21.2 
Comment 
This instruction was adopted in 1981 and amended in 1995 and 2008. 
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21.2 RESISTING OFFICER WITHOUT VIOLENCE 
§ 843.02, Fla. Stat. 
To prove the crime of Resisting Officer without Violence, the State must 
prove the following three four elements beyond a reasonable doubt: 
1.  
(Defendant) [resisted] [obstructed] [opposed] (victim). 
2.  
At the time, (victim) was engaged in the [execution of legal 
process] [lawful execution of a legal duty]. 
3.  
At the time, (victim) was an [an officer] [a person legally 
authorized to execute process]. 
4.  
At the time, (defendant) knew (victim) was [an officer][a person 
legally authorized to execute process]. 
In giving the instruction below, insert the class of officer to which the victim 
belongs, e.g., law enforcement officer, correctional officer.  See Wright v. State, 
586 So. 2d 1024 (Fla. 1991).  See § 843.02 Fla. Stat. for the type of officer covered 
by this statute. 
The court now instructs you that every (name of official position of 
victim designated in charge) is an officer within the meaning of this law. 
In giving this instruction, do not refer to the victim by name.  The instruction 
must state the class of officers to which the victim belongs, e.g., probation officer, 
correctional officer.  See Wright v. State, 586 So.2d 1024 (Fla. 1991). 
The court further instructs you that (read duty being performed from 
charge) constitutes [execution of legal process] [lawful execution of a legal 
duty]. 
In giving this instruction, refer only to the type of duty or legal process that 
was being performed, e.g., making an arrest, serving a subpoena, serving a 
domestic violence order.  See Hierro v. State, 608 So.2d 912 (Fla. 3d DCA 1992). 
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Lesser Included Offenses 
RESISTING OFFICER WITHOUT VIOLENCE — 843.02 
CATEGORY ONE 
CATEGORY TWO 
FLA. STAT. 
INS. NO. 
None 
Attempt 
777.04(1) 
5.1 
Comment 
This instruction was adopted in 1981 [431 So.2d 594] and amended in 
1989 [543 So. 2d 1205], and 1995 [657 So.2d 1152] and 2008. 
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