## IN THE COURT O F CRIMINAL APPEALS

OF TE XAS

N O S

. P D

- 0 8 9 3

- 1 4 & P D

- 0 8 9 4

- 1 4

J O E Y D A R R E L L F A U S T

, A p p e l l a n t

v

.

T H E S T A T E O F T E X A S

- - - - - - - - - - - -

R A M O N M A R R O Q U I N

, A p p e l l a n t

v

.

T H E S T A T E O F T E X A S

O N S T A T E ’ S P E T I T I O N S F O R D I S C R E T I O N A R Y R E V I E W

F R O M T H E S E C O N D C O U R T O F A P P E A L S

T A R R A N T C O U N T Y

Y E A R Y

, J

. , f

i l e d a c o n c u r r i n g o p i n i o n

.

C O N C U R R I N G O P I N I O N

P o l i c e h a v e a d i f

f i c u l t e n o u g h j o b w i t h o u t t h e a d d e d b u r d e n o f i n d i v i d u a l c i t i z e n s

p h y s i c a l l y i n t e r f

e r i n g w i t h t h e m i n t h e p e r f o r m a n c e o f t h e i r d u t i e s

. A c c o r d i n g t o t h e F

. B

. I

.

U n i f o r m C r i m e R e p o r t i n g P r o g r a m p u b l i c a t i o n e n t i t l e d L a w E n f o r c e m e n t O

f f i c e r s K i l l e d a n d

A s s a u l t e d

, i n t h e y e a r 2 0 1 4

, 9 6 o f f i c e r s w e r e k i l l e d i n t h e l i n e o f d u t y ( 5 1 o f t h o s e w e r eFAU ST & MARROQUI N — 2

“ f e l o n i o u s l y k i l l e d

, ” a n d 4 5 w e r e “ a c c i d e n t a l l y k i l l e d ” )

, a n d 4 8

, 3 1 5 o f f i c e r s w e r e a s s a u l t e d

w h i l e p e r f

o r m i n g t h e i r d u t i e s

. F E D

. B U R E A U O F I N V E S T IG A T IO N

, 2 0 1 4 L A W E N F O R C E M E N T

O F F IC E R S K ILL E D & A S S A U LT E D ( 2 0 1 4 )

, h t t p s : / / w w w

. f b i

. g o v / a b o u t

- u s / c

j i s / u c r / l e o k a / 2 0 1 4 /

h o m e

. I t i s n o s u r p r i s e t o f i n d

, t h e r e f

o r e

, t h a t T e x a s h a s m a d e i t a c r i m e t o i n t e r f e r e w i t h a n

o f f i c e r w h o i s p e r f

o r m i n g h i s d u t y

. T E X

. P E N A L C O D E § 3 8

. 1 5 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( I n t e r f e r e n c e w i t h P u b l i c

D u t i e s )

.

A p p e l l a n t s i n t h e s e c a s e s h a v e b e e n c h a r g e d w i t h a n d c o n v i c t e d o f d o i n g e x a c t l y t h a t :

i n t e r f e r i n g w i t h o f

f i c e r s w h o w e r e p e r f

o r m i n g t h e i r d u t i e s

. A p p e l l a n t s h a v e c o m p l a i n e d o n

a p p e a l

, i n t u r n

, t h a t i t w a s n o t t h e y w h o i n t e r f e r e d w i t h t h e o f

f i c e r s

, b u t t h e o f

f i c e r s w h o w e r e

i n t e r f e r i n g w i t h t h e m i n t h e e x e r c i s e o f t h e i r c o n s t i t u t i o n a l r i g h t t o s p e e c h p r o t e c t e d b y t h e

F i r s t A m e n d m e n t t o t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s C o n s t i t u t i o n

. T h e c o u r t o f a p p e a l s a g r e e d a n d r e v e r s e d

t h e i r c o n v i c t i o n s

— a c t u a l l y r e n d e r i n g j u d g m e n t s o f a c q u i t t a l

. F a u s t & M a r r o q u i n v

. S t a t e

,

N o s

. 0 2

- 1 3

- 0 0 2 2 2

- C R & 0 2

- 1 3

- 0 0 2 2 3

, 2 0 1 4 W L 2 6 1 1 1 8 6

, a t * 4 ( T e x

. A p p

. — F t

. W o r t h J u n e

1 2

, 2 0 1 4 ) ( m e m

. o p

. , n o t d e s i g n a t e d f o r p u b l i c a t i o n )

. W e

, t h e n

, g r a n t e d t h e S t a t e ’ s p e t i t i o n s

f o r d i s c r e t i o n a r y r e v i e w t o d e t e r m i n e w h e t h e r t h e c o u r t o f a p p e a l s ’ s d e c i s i o n w a s c o r r e c t

. 1

We gr anted the f

ollowing g rounds for r eview: 1

1. Did the S econd Court of Ap p eals err in implicitl y holding that citizens can use the

First Amendment to the United States Constit ution as a shield to disob ey lawful

order s of l aw enforc ement and forc ibly cross a police ski rmish line set up at a Gay

Pride P ar ad e i n For

t Worth, Texas, when those measure s by law enfor ceme nt are

taken to pre serve the pea ce a nd the safe ty

of the public?

2. Notwithstanding that police action may infring e on a citizen’s Fi rs t Am en d ment

rig hts, does a citizen have a right to diso b ey t h e o rd ers of a police officer

, forc iblyFAU ST & MARROQUI N — 3

M y c o l l e a g u e

, J u d g e N e w e l l

, r a i s e s a n i m p o r t a n t q u e s t i o n

— o n e t h a t I a m f r a n k l y

d r a w n t o a n d w h i c h I b e l i e v e m a y q u i t e p o s s i b l y b e c o r r e c t

— t h a t t h e c o u r t o f a p p e a l s s h o u l d

n e v e r h a v e r e a c h e d t h e i s s u e t h a t w a s r a i s e d o n a p p e a l i n t h i s c a s e

. H e c o n c l u d e s t h a t

A p p e l l a n t s n e v e r o b t a i n e d a n a d v e r s e r u l i n g

— a n e c e s s a r y s y s t e m i c r e q u i r e m e n t t o a n

a p p e l l a n t ’ s r i g h t t o b r i n g u p a n i s s u e o n a p p e a l

— o n t h e q u e s t i o n a d d r e s s e d b y t h e c o u r t o f

a p p e a l s

. S e e T E X

. R

. A P P

. P

. 3 3

. 1 ( a ) ( 2 )

. H e c o n c l u d e s t h a t A p p e l l a n t s o b t a i n e d a n a d v e r s e

r u l i n g o n l y o n t h e i r r e q u e s t f o r a n a c q u i t t a l

, a n d b a s e d o n m y r e a d i n g o f t h e r e c o r d

, I t h i n k

h e m i g h t b e c o r r e c t

. B u t I a m n o t c e r t a i n

. A n d t h e i s s u e i s n o t o n e t h a t i s s o e a s i l y d e c i d e d

t h a t I a m p r e p a r e d t o r e s o l v e i t w i t h o u t r e q u e s t i n g b r i e f s f r o m t h e p a r t i e s

. M o r e o v e r

, t h a t i s

n o t t h e i s s u e u p o n w h i c h t h i s C o u r t g r a n t e d r e v i e w

. C o n s e q u e n t l y

, I b e l i e v e t h e m o r e p r u d e n t

c o u r s e f o r t h i s C o u r t n o w i s t o f o c u s o n a n d r e s o l v e t h e i s s u e s s t a t e d i n t h e g r o u n d s f o r

r e v i e w w h i c h w e a g r e e d t o a d d r e s s

.

T h e m a j o r i t y o p i n i o n

, a s w e l l a s t h e d i s s e n t b y P r e s i d i n g J u d g e K e l l e r

, a t t e m p t t o d o

j u s t t h a t

. T h e y e a c h a d d r e s s t h e i s s u e s o n w h i c h t h i s C o u r t g r a n t e d r e v i e w

, a l b e i t i n d i f f e r e n t

brea ch a skirmish line, and inter fer e with the off icer ’s duties?

3. Did the Second Court of Appea ls err in failing to conduct a proper “as applied” First

Amendment analy sis when it conclude d that t h e Fo rt Worth Police Depa rtment’s

ac t ion in constructing a skirmish line at a Gay Pride Parade violated t h e Fi rs t

Amendment to the United States Constituti on?

4. Did the S econd Court of Appeals err in concluding that the s kirmish line set up by

the police depar

tment during the For

t Worth Gay Pride Parade was not a rea sonable

action as to “time, place

, or manner ” under the First Amendment to the United States

Constit ution?FAU ST & MARROQUI N — 4

w a y s

. T h e M a

j o r i t y a n d P r e s i d i n g J u d g e K e l l e r ’ s o p i n i o n s d e b a t e

, a s d i d t h e c o u r t o f a p p e a l s

,

w h e t h e r A p p e l l a n t s ’ F i r s t A m e n d m e n t r i g h t s w e r e v i o l a t e d

. P r e s i d i n g J u d g e K e l l e r ’ s o p i n i o n

i s c o n c e r n e d a b o u t t h e p u r p o s e o f t h e p o l i c e s k i r m i s h l i n e a n d a r g u e s t h a t i t w a s f o r m e d t o

p r e v e n t A p p e l l a n t s f

r o m “ e x p r e s s [ i n g ] t h e i r v i e w s b e c a u s e t h e i r w o r d s a r e h a t e f u l

. ”

D i s s e n t i n g O p i n i o n o f P r e s i d i n g J u d g e K e l l e r a t 1

. T h e M a j o r i t y

, a l s o

, i s c o n c e r n e d w i t h t h e

c o n s t i t u t i o n a l i t y o f t h e s k i r m i s h l i n e

, a p p e a r i n g t o m e t o c o n c l u d e t h a t t h e l e g a l i t y o f t h a t

p o l i c e a c t i o n s h o u l d d e t e r m i n e t h e o u t c o m e i n t h e s e c a s e s

. M a j o r i t y O p i n i o n a t 1 5

- 1 9

. T h e

M a j o r i t y h o l d s

, n e v e r t h e l e s s

, “ t h a t t h e t e m p o r a r y s k i r m i s h l i n e w a s a l a w f u l m e a n s t o e f

f e c t

t h e p o l i c e p u r p o s e o f p r e s e r v i n g t h e p e a c e

. . . . ” M a j o r i t y O p i n i o n a t 1 9

. 2

B u t I s e e t h i s c a s e d i f

f e r e n t l y t h a n b o t h P r e s i d i n g J u d g e K e l l e r a n d t h e M a j o r i t y

.

C o r r e c t l y f

r a m e d

, t h e i s s u e i n t h i s c a s e

, i t s e e m s t o m e

, i s n o t w h e t h e r A p p e l l a n t s h a d a F i r s t

T h e Majority seems to take it as a fore g one conclusion that the I nterfe ring with Public 2

Duties statu t e i tself imposes, as an element, a require ment of proof that the public duties being

interfe red with are being car ried out by lawful and constitutional means. Majority Opinion at 11. The

statute provides that the of fice r interfe red with must be “per forming a duty or exercising authority

imposed or g rante d by law. ” T E X

. P E N A L C O D E § 38.15(a) (1). I t is not at all as clea r to me, as it

seems to be to J udg e Newe ll, that the phrase “imposed or g rante d by law” modifies both “author ity ”

and “duty ” in t he statute. Dissenting Opinion of J udg e Ne well at 3. Disce rning whether the words

“author ity ” and “duty ” are both modified by the phrase “i m p o s ed or gra nted by law” is no simple

g rammatica l endea

vor. But even if both are modified by that ph ra s e, it is bey ond dispute that the

office rs i n this case had a duty “imposed . . . by law” to prese rve the peac e at the parade. See e.g.

, T E X

. C O D E C R I M

. P R O C

. art. 2.13(a) (“I t is the duty of ever y peac e office r to prese rve the peac e

within the office r’s jurisdiction.”). I ndeed th at i s what g ave them cause to be prese nt when

Appellants violated their skirmish line. Bu t as J udg e Newe ll also notices—and I ag ree with him

about this—there is a proper distinction to be made betwee n a duty imposed by law on an office r and

the “mea ns” the office r uses to eff

ect that duty

. Id. (“To eff

ect this purpose [t he duty to prese rve the

peac e], the office r shall use all lawful means .”). Gi v en that understanding of the lang uag e of the

statute, I do not believe the statute calls for an acquittal or dismiss al, even when it is shown that the

rea son a person interfe red with an office r was beca use th e office r was first interfe ring with the

person’ s constitutional rights.FAU ST & MARROQUI N — 5

A m e n d m e n t r i g h t t o s p e a k o u t a g a i n s t t h e G a y P r i d e P a r a d e

, i t s o r g a n i z e r s a n d p a r t i c i p a n t s

,

a n d i t s m e s s a g e

. O f c o u r s e t h e y d i d

. T h e i s s u e i n t h i s c a s e i s a l s o n o t w h e t h e r t h e s k i r m i s h

l i n e e s t a b l i s h e d b y t h e p o l i c e h a d t h e i n c i d e n t a l e f f e c t o f d e l a y i n g A p p e l l a n t s ’ a c c e s s t o a

l o c a t i o n f

r o m w h i c h

, t h e y c l a i m

, t h e y w i s h e d t o e x e r c i s e t h e i r F i r s t A m e n d m e n t r i g h t s

. T h e

i s s u e

, I b e l i e v e

, i s w h e t h e r A p p e l l a n t s w e r e a r r e s t e d a n d c h a r g e d w i t h a c r i m e f o r e x e r c i s i n g

t h e i r F i r s t A m e n d m e n t r i g h t s o r w h e t h e r t h e y w e r e a r r e s t e d a n d c h a r g e d w i t h a c r i m e f o r

i n t e r f e r i n g w i t h p e a c e o f

f i c e r s w h o w e r e p e r f

o r m i n g t h e i r d u t y

.

A p p e l l a n t s w e r e c h a r g e d w i t h t h e s t a t e c r i m i n a l o f f e n s e o f i n t e r f

e r i n g w i t h t h e p u b l i c

d u t i e s o f a p e a c e o f

f i c e r

. T E X

. P E N A L C O D E § 3 8

. 1 5 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( I n t e r f e r e n c e w i t h P u b l i c D u t i e s )

.

T h a t s t a t u t e p r o v i d e s

, i n r e l e v a n t p a r t

, t h a t “ [ a ] p e r s o n c o m m i t s a n o f f e n s e i f t h e p e r s o n w i t h

c r i m i n a l n e g l i g e n c e i n t e r r u p t s

, d i s r u p t s

, i m p e d e s

, o r o t h e r w i s e i n t e r f e r e s w i t h : ( 1 ) a p e a c e

o f f i c e r w h i l e t h e p e a c e o f f i c e r i s p e r f

o r m i n g a d u t y o r e x e r c i s i n g a u t h o r i t y i m p o s e d o r

g r a n t e d b y l a w

. ” I

d

. T h e c h a r g i n g i n s t r u m e n t s a l l e g e d t h a t e a c h d e f e n d a n t d i d t h e n a n d t h e r e

,

W I T H C R I M I N A L N E G L I G E N C E I N T E R R U P T

, D I S R U P T

, I M P E D E O R

I N T E R F E R E W I T H

. . . A P E A C E O F F I C E R

, W H O W A S P E R F O R M I N G

A L A W F U L D U T Y

, T O

- W I T : C O N T R O L L I N G T H E C R O W D A N D

M A I N T A I N I N G T H E P E A C E A T A G A Y P A R A D E

. . . . 3

T h e s t a t u t e p r o v i d e s a d e f e n s e t o p r o s e c u t i o n w h e r e “ t h e i n t e r r u p t i o n

, d i s r u p t i o n

,

i m p e d i m e n t

, o r i n t e r f

e r e n c e a l l e g e d c o n s i s t e d o f s p e e c h o n l y

. ” T E X

. P E N A L C O D E §

The char g ing instrument in Fa ust’s case alleg ed further that he committed the offe nse : “B Y 3

ATTEMPTI

NG TO CROSS A STREET AFT ER BEI NG ORDERED NOT TO CROSS SAI D

STREET

. . . .” The char g ing instrument in Marr oquin’s case alleg ed further that he committed the

o ffense: “B Y ATTEMPTI NG TO CROSS A L I

NE OR ROW OF POL I CE OFF I CERS BY

ATTEMPTI

NG TO PUSH THROUG H SAI D L I NE OF POL I CE OFF I CERS . . . .”FAU ST & MARROQUI N — 6

3 8

. 1 5 ( a ) ( 1 )

. B u t t h i s c a s e d o e s n o t s e e m t o m e t o t u r n o n t h e q u e s t i o n o f t h e a p p l i c a b i l i t y

4

o f t h e “ s p e e c h o n l y ” d e f e n s e p r o v i d e d f

o r i n t h e s t a t u t e

. N o o n e s e e m s t o b e a r g u i n g t h a t b y

“ c r o s s [ i n g ] a s t r e e t a f

t e r b e i n g o r d e r e d n o t t o c r o s s s a i d s t r e e t

. . . . ”

, o r b y “ a t t e m p t i n g t o

c r o s s a l i n e o r r o w o f p o l i c e o f f i c e r s b y a t t e m p t i n g t o p u s h t h r o u g h s a i d l i n e o f p o l i c e

o f f i c e r s

, ” A p p e l l a n t s e n g a g e d i n c o n d u c t t h a t c o n s i s t e d o f “ s p e e c h o n l y

. ” I n s t e a d

, A p p e l l a n t s

c o m p l a i n i n t h i s C o u r t t h a t t h e c o n d u c t o f t h e o f f i c e r s i n f o r m i n g t h e s k i r m i s h l i n e i n t h e f i r s t

i n s t a n c e v i o l a t e d t h e i r r i g h t t o f r e e s p e e c h g u a r a n t e e d b y t h e F i r s t A m e n d m e n t

. T h e y s e e m

t o c l a i m t h a t t h e y w e r e p r i v i l e g e d t o d i s r e g a r d t h e a u t h o r i t y o f t h e p o l i c e o f

f i c e r s w h o w e r e

i n t h e i r w a y o n t h a t d a y a n d i n t h a t l o c a t i o n b e c a u s e t h e i r i n t e r e s t i n c o m m u n i c a t i n g t h e i r

m e s s a g e f

r o m t h e p l a c e t h a t t h e y w i s h e d t o c o m m u n i c a t e i t o u t w e i g h e d t h e i r d u t y t o r e f r a i n

f r o m i n t e r f

e r i n g w i t h p e a c e o f

f i c e r s w h o w e r e d i s c h a r g i n g t h e i r d u t y t o k e e p t h e p e a c e

.

T h i s C o u r t h a s p r e v i o u s l y d e t e r m i n e d

, i n t h e c o n t e x t o f a p r o s e c u t i o n f o r r e s i s t i n g

a r r e s t

, t h a t “ i t i s n o d e f

e n s e t o p r o s e c u t i o n t h a t t h e a r r e s t o r s e a r c h w a s u n l a w f u l

. ” S t a t e v

.

M a y o r g a

, 9 0 1 S

. W

. 2 d 9 4 3

, 9 4 5 ( T e x

. C r i m

. A p p

. 1 9 9 5 )

. I n t h a t c a s e

, t h i s C o u r t a d h e r e d t o

i t s r e a s o n i n g i n p r e v i o u s c a s e s i n w h i c h w e s t a t e d t h a t “ t h e u s e o f s e l f

- h e l p t o p r e v e n t a n

u n l a w f u l a r r e s t p r e s e n t s t o o g r e a t a t h r e a t t o t h e s a f e t y o f i n d i v i d u a l s a n d s o c i e t y t o b e

s a n c t i o n e d

, ” a n d t h a t “ [ t ] h e l i n e b e t w e e n a n i l l e g a l a n d l e g a l a r r e s t i s t o o f i n e t o b e

d e t e r m i n e d i n a s t r e e t c o n f r o n t a t i o n ; i t i s a q u e s t i o n t o b e d e c i d e d b y t h e c o u r t s

. ” I d

. ( q u o t i n g

B a r n e t t v

. S t a t e

, 6 1 5 S

. W

. 2 d 2 2 0

, 2 2 3 ( T e x

. C r i m

. A p p

. 1 9 8 1 ) )

. I a m d r a w n t o t h e w i s d o m

The United States Supreme Court has held that a simil ar ordinanc e, without such a defe nse, 4

was unc onstitut ional. City of Houston, T exas v . Hill , 482 U.S. 451, 467 (1987).FAU ST & MARROQUI N — 7

a n d t h e l o g i c o f a r u l e p r o h i b i t i n g i n t e r f e r e n c e w i t h o f

f i c e r s e v e n w h e n c i t i z e n s b e l i e v e t h e

o f f i c e r s a r e w r o n g

. I t s e e m s t o m e t h a t a c i t i z e n ’ s d i s p u t e w i t h a n o f f i c e r s h o u l d o r d i n a r i l y

b e s e t t l e d i n c o u r t

, n o t o n t h e s t r e e t

.

I n t e r e s t i n g l y

, I h a v e f

o u n d n o c a s e s i n w h i c h t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s S u p r e m e C o u r t h a s

s q u a r e l y c o n s i d e r e d w h e t h e r a s t a t u t e p r o h i b i t i n g r e s i s t i n g a r r e s t o r s e a r c h i s a p p l i e d

c o n s t i t u t i o n a l l y w h e n t h e o f f i c e r s ’ a c t i o n s v i o l a t e a c i t i z e n ’ s c o n s t i t u t i o n a l r i g h t s

. I a m

s i m i l a r l y u n a w a r e o f a n y c a s e s

, b y e i t h e r t h i s C o u r t o r t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s S u p r e m e C o u r t

, t h a t

h a v e s q u a r e l y a d d r e s s e d t h a t s a m e i s s u e i n t h e c o n t e x t o f a s t a t u t e p r o h i b i t i n g i n t e r f e r e n c e

w i t h t h e p u b l i c d u t i e s o f a n o f f i c e r

. B u t i n m y o p i n i o n

, t o s a y a n y t h i n g o t h e r t h a n t h a t

i n t e r f e r e n c e w i t h a n o f

f i c e r ( o t h e r t h a n b y s p e e c h o n l y ) i s a c r i m e r e g a r d l e s s o f w h e t h e r t h e

o f f i c e r i s v i o l a t i n g a p e r s o n ’ s r i g h t s

, e x c e p t i n v e r y l i m i t e d c i r c u m s t a n c e s j u s t i f y i n g t h e u s e

o f r e a s o n a b l e f

o r c e f o r s e l f

- d e f e n s e o n l y

, i s t o i n v i t e c i t i z e n s t o s e e k v i n d i c a t i o n o f t h e i r

r i g h t s o n t h e s t r e e t s a g a i n s t p o l i c e o f f i c e r s w h o m a y r e a s o n a b l y b e l i e v e

, a l t h o u g h t h e y m a y

b e m i s t a k e n

, t h a t t h e y a r e u s i n g l a w f u l m e a n s t o e f

f e c t t h e i r d u t i e s

. W e s h o u l d n o t i n v i t e t h a t

k i n d o f s t r e e t j u s t i c e

.

T h e r e i s n o q u e s t i o n t h a t a r e q u i r e m e n t o f s u b m i s s i o n t o p o l i c e a u t h o r i t y o n t h e s t r e e t

m i g h t m e a n t h a t

, i n s o m e c a s e s

, a p e r f e c t v i n d i c a t i o n o f a d e p r i v e d r i g h t c a n n e v e r b e h a d

.

S o m e m i g h t a r g u e

, f

o r e x a m p l e

, t h a t i f t h e y l o s e t h e o n e o p p o r t u n i t y t h a t w a s a v a i l a b l e t o

t h e m t o p r o t e s t a t a p a r t i c u l a r p a r a d e

, i n a p a r t i c u l a r l o c a t i o n

, a t a p a r t i c u l a r t i m e o f d a y

, n o

a m o u n t o f m o n e y d a m a g e s

— a n d e v e n t h e f i r i n g o f t h e p e a c e o f

f i c e r w h o v i o l a t e d t h e i rFAU ST & MARROQUI N — 8

r i g h t s

— c a n r e s t o r e t h a t l o s t o p p o r t u n i t y

. I a m t r o u b l e d b y p o s s i b l e d e p r i v a t i o n s l i k e t h a t o n e

.

B u t t h e p r o b l e m I s e e w i t h a u t h o r i z i n g i n d i v i d u a l s t o s e e k t h e i r o w n s t r e e t j u s t i c e i s t h a t i t

c o m e s a t a t e r r i b l e p r i c e

— a n i n c r e a s e d r i s k o f h a r m

, b o t h t o t h e p e r s o n s e e k i n g v i n d i c a t i o n

o f t h e i r r i g h t s a n d t o o t h e r s p r e s e n t w h o m a y a t t e m p t t o c o m e t o t h e a i d o f e i t h e r t h e c i t i z e n

o r t h e o f f i c e r

. I f s u c h a s i t u a t i o n e s c a l a t e s

, p e o p l e c a n g e t h u r t

, o r i n j u r e d

, o r e v e n k i l l e d

, a n d

t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n c a n n o t d e f e n d t h e r i g h t o f a d e a d p e r s o n t o s p e a k

. S u c h a p e r s o n c a n o n l y

b e h e a r d t h e n b y t h e l i v i n g i n m e m o r y

, o r i n b o o k s o r o t h e r w r i t i n g s

, o r t h r o u g h o t h e r

r e c o r d e d m e d i a

.

E v e n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s S u p r e m e C o u r t h a s r e c o g n i z e d t h a t p o l i c e a r e a u t h o r i z e d t o

u s e p h y s i c a l c o e r c i o n i n o r d e r t o e f f e c t t h e i r d u t i e s

. S e e G r a h a m v

. C o n n o r

, 4 9 0 U

. S

. 3 8 6

,

3 9 6 ( 1 9 8 9 ) ( “ O u r F o u r t h A m e n d m e n t j u r i s p r u d e n c e h a s l o n g r e c o g n i z e d t h a t t h e r i g h t t o

m a k e a n a r r e s t o r i n v e s t i g a t o r y s t o p n e c e s s a r i l y c a r r i e s w i t h i t t h e r i g h t t o u s e s o m e d e g r e e

o f p h y s i c a l c o e r c i o n o r t h r e a t t h e r e o f t o e f f e c t i t

. ” )

. T h a t i s c e r t a i n l y t r u e i n T e x a s

. O u r l a w

a u t h o r i z e s o f

f i c e r s t o e f

f e c t t h e i r d u t i e s u s i n g “ a l l l a w f u l m e a n s

. ” T E X

. C O D E C R IM

. P R O C

.

a r t

. 2

. 1 3 ( a )

. O u r l a w e x p l i c i t l y a u t h o r i z e s t h e u s e o f f o r c e b y p e a c e o f

f i c e r s w h e n t h e y

r e a s o n a b l y b e l i e v e i t i s i m m e d i a t e l y n e c e s s a r y t o m a k e o r a s s i s t i n m a k i n g a n a r r e s t o r s e a r c h

o r t o p r e v e n t a n e s c a p e a f t e r a r r e s t

, a s l o n g a s t h e y r e a s o n a b l y b e l i e v e t h e a r r e s t o r s e a r c h i s

l a w f u l

. T E X

. P E N A L C O D E § 9

. 5 1 ( a )

. I t a l s o a u t h o r i z e s

, i n l i m i t e d c i r c u m s t a n c e s

, t h e u s e b y

a n o f f i c e r o f d e a d l y f

o r c e

. T E X

. P E N A L C O D E § 9

. 5 1 ( c )

.

I c e r t a i n l y d o n o t w a n t o f f i c e r s t o v i o l a t e t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n a l o r s t a t u t o r y r i g h t s o f o u rFAU ST & MARROQUI N — 9

c i t i z e n s

. N e v e r t h e l e s s

, I a m c o n v i n c e d t h a t r i g h t s t h a t a r e l o s t i n c o m m u n i t y

- b a s e d

c i t i z e n / p o l i c e e n c o u n t e r s

— b e t w e e n c i t i z e n s w h o b e l i e v e t h e i r r i g h t s a r e b e i n g v i o l a t e d a n d

o f f i c e r s w h o r e a s o n a b l y b e l i e v e t h e m e a n s t h e y h a v e c h o s e n t o e f f e c t t h e i r d u t i e s a r e l a w f

u l

a n d c o n s t i t u t i o n a l

— a r e o u t w e i g h e d b y t h e d a n g e r o f e n c o u r a g i n g l a w l e s s d i s r e g a r d f o r a n

o f f i c e r ’ s a u t h o r i t y o n t h e s t r e e t

. W h i l e r i g h t s l o s t m a y n e v e r b e v i n d i c a t e d f u l l y i n t h e s e n s e

t h a t a r i g h t l o s t i n a m o m e n t i n t i m e m a y n e v e r b e r e s t o r e d

, t h o s e r i g h t s c a n b e s o m e w h a t

i m p e r f e c t l y v i n d i c a t e d b y s u b s e q u e n t c o u r t a c t i o n s

. I t i s b e t t e r t o e n c o u r a g e c i t i z e n s t o s e t t l e

t h e i r d i s p u t e s w i t h p o l i c e i n a c o u r t r o o m t h a n t o e n c o u r a g e t h e m t o s e t t l e t h e m o n t h e s t r e e t

,

w i t h t h e p o t e n t i a l f

o r v i o l e n c e

— e s p e c i a l l y w h e n t h e v i o l e n c e c o u l d b e d e a d l y

.

U n d e r m y r e a d i n g o f t h e I n t e r f e r e n c e w i t h P u b l i c D u t i e s o f a n O f f i c e r s t a t u t e

, a

p e r s o n i s n o t a u t h o r i z e d t o i n t e r f e r e w i t h a n o f

f i c e r e v e n i f t h e p e r s o n b e l i e v e s t h e i r r i g h t s

a r e b e i n g v i o l a t e d b y t h e o f f i c e r

— a n d t h i s i s s o r e g a r d l e s s o f w h e t h e r t h e p e r s o n ’ s

a s s e s s m e n t o f t h e p r o p r i e t y o f t h e o f f i c e r ’ s c h o s e n m e a n s o f e f f e c t i n g h i s d u t y m i g h t l a t e r

b e v i n d i c a t e d b y a c o u r t

. T h e s t a t u t e s i m p l y p r o h i b i t s i n t e r f e r i n g w i t h a n o f

f i c e r w h i l e t h e

o f f i c e r i s p e r f

o r m i n g h i s d u t i e s

. T h e s t a t u t e p r o v i d e s a d e f e n s e i f t h e i n t e r f

e r e n c e c o n s i s t s o f

“ s p e e c h o n l y

. ” T E X

. P E N A L C O D E § 3 8

. 1 5 ( d )

. I n t e r f e r e n c e b e y o n d “ s p e e c h o n l y ” i s

p r o s c r i b e d

. P e r i o d

. A d i s p u t e a b o u t t h e m e a n s a n o f f i c e r u s e s t o c a r r y o u t h i s d u t i e s “ i s a

q u e s t i o n t o b e s e t t l e d b y t h e c o u r t s

. ” B a r n e t t

, 6 1 5 S

. W

. 2 d a t 2 2 3

. 5

That is not to say that a person has no rig h t t o resist an office r no matter what the 5

circ umstances. Certainly there is a limit ed rig ht to self-de fense ag ainst an office r “if befor e the actor

offe rs any resistanc e, the peac e office r [] uses or attempts to use more forc e than nece ssary to make

the arr est or sear ch; an d [ ] when and to the deg ree the actor believes the forc e is immediatelyFAU ST & MARROQUI N — 10

T h e M a j o r i t y a n d P r e s i d i n g J u d g e K e l l e r ’ s o p i n i o n s s u g g e s t t h a t c i t i z e n s h a v e t h e

r i g h t t o i n t e r f

e r e w i t h p e a c e o f

f i c e r s i f t h e c i t i z e n s b e l i e v e t h a t t h e i r r i g h t s a r e b e i n g v i o l a t e d

b y t h e m e a n s c h o s e n b y t h e o f f i c e r s t o e f

f e c t t h e i r d u t i e s

. T h e i r o p i n i o n s s u g g e s t t h a t i f t h e

c i t i z e n ’ s b e l i e f i s o n e t h a t w o u l d l a t e r b e v i n d i c a t e d b y t h e c o u r t s

, t h e c i t i z e n i s j u s t i f i e d i n

i n t e r f e r i n g w i t h t h e o f

f i c e r ’ s p e r f

o r m a n c e o f h i s d u t i e s

. I t i s n o t h a r d t o i m a g i n e t h a t s u c h

i n t e r f e r e n c e m i g h t g e t s o m e o n e h a r m e d o r e v e n k i l l e d

. T h a t m i g h t h u r t t h e c i t i z e n s w h o s e

r i g h t s w e r e v i o l a t e d b y t h e p o l i c e

, a n d i t m i g h t h a r m t h e o f f i c e r t o o

, w h o m i g h t o n l y l a t e r

l e a r n t h a t h e h a s h a r m e d a c i t i z e n p h y s i c a l l y w h e n i t w a s h e

, t h e o f f i c e r

, w h o p r o v o k e d t h e

c i t i z e n ’ s i n t e r f

e r e n c e d u e t o a m i s t a k e n b u t r e a s o n a b l e b e l i e f t h a t h i s c o n d u c t w a s j u s t i f i e d

.

I r e s p e c t f

u l l y c o n c u r o n l y i n t h e j u d g m e n t o f t h e c o u r t

.

F I L E D : D e c e m b e r 9

, 2 0 1 5

P U B L I S H

nece ssary to protec t himself ag ainst the peac e office r’s

. . . use or attempted use of g rea ter forc e than

nece ssary .” T E X

. P E N A L C O D E § 9.31(c) . Thankfully , that issue is not raised in this case.