Case Name: State of Wisconsin, Plaintiff-Respondent-Petitioner, v. Jonathan J. Hubbard, Defendant-Appellant
Court: Wisconsin Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Wisconsin
Decision Date: 2008-07-15
Citations: 313 Wis. 2d 1
Docket Number: No. 2006AP2753-CR
Parties: State of Wisconsin, Plaintiff-Respondent-Petitioner, v. Jonathan J. Hubbard, Defendant-Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: Wisconsin Reports Second
Volume: 313
Pages: 1–38

Head Matter:
State of Wisconsin, Plaintiff-Respondent-Petitioner, v. Jonathan J. Hubbard, Defendant-Appellant.
Supreme Court
No. 2006AP2753-CR.
Oral argument April 10, 2008.
—Decided July 15, 2008.
2008 WI 92
(Also reported in 752 N.W.2d 839.)
For the plaintiff-respondent-petitioner the cause was argued by David J. Becker, assistant attorney general, with whom on the briefs was J.B. Van Hollen, attorney general.
For the defendant-appellant there was a brief filed by Steven W. Zaleski and The Zaleski Law Firm, Jan-esville, and oral argument by Steven W Zaleski.

Opinion:
1. DAVID T. PROSSER, J.
¶ This is a review of a published decision of the court of appeals, which reversed and remanded the judgment and orders of the Ozaukee County Circuit Court, Thomas R. Wolfgram, Judge.
¶ 2. Defendant Jonathan J. Hubbard (Hubbard) was convicted in a jury trial of injury by intoxicated use of a vehicle, a violation of Wis. Stat. § 940.25(l)(a). During deliberations, the jury requested clarification of a word or term in the jury instructions. The jury had been instructed that to convict Hubbard it was required to find beyond a reasonable doubt that: (1) Hubbard operated a vehicle; (2) Hubbard's operation of the vehicle caused great bodily harm; and (3) Hubbard was under the influence of prescription medication at the time he operated the vehicle. The court added that" 'under the influence' means that the defendant's ability to operate a vehicle was materially impaired because of consumption of a prescription medication." This part of the court's instruction was based upon Wis. Stat. § 939.22(42).
¶ 3. The court sent a copy of its instructions to the jury room with verdict forms. After deliberating, the jury sent Judge Wolfgram a question: "Could the judge define 'materially' impaired? Does this mean that he was impaired enough to have an effect on outcome? If not, what?"
¶ 4. We are asked to address whether the circuit court erred when it responded to the jury's request for clarification by directing the jury to "give all words not otherwise defined in the jury instructions their ordinary meaning." The State asserts that the circuit court's response was correct because the term "materially impaired" has no peculiar meaning in the context of criminal law. Hubbard contends that the circuit court's response was erroneous because "materially impaired" has a peculiar meaning in the law that was established by this court's decision in State v. Waalen, 130 Wis. 2d 18, 386 N.W.2d 47 (1986). Hubbard asserts that Judge Wolf-gram should have instructed the jury as to the meaning of "materially impaired" by using certain phrases in the Waalen decision.
¶ 5. We conclude that the circuit court's response to the jury's request for clarification was not error. The term "materially impaired" does not have a technical or peculiar meaning in the law beyond the time-tested explanations in standard jury instructions; therefore, the circuit court's response to the jury was not error, comported with Wis. Stat. § 990.01, and did not constitute an erroneous exercise of discretion. Accordingly, we reverse the court of appeals.
I. BACKGROUND
¶ 6. On January 27, 2005, Hubbard was involved in a two car accident. Hubbard's Mitsubishi sports utility vehicle rear-ended a Volkswagen Jetta and pushed it off the highway into a tree. The crash caused serious injuries to a nine-year-old girl who was a passenger in the Volkswagen. She suffered injuries to her head, collarbone, arm, and face. An officer at the scene described Hubbard as "disoriented" after the accident. Hubbard told the officer he had taken 13 pills of a prescription anxiety medication called Xanax in the 24-hour period preceding the accident. Xanax is a controlled substance. See Wis. Stat. § 961.20(2)(a) (Alprazolam).
¶ 7. On January 31, 2005, the State charged Hubbard with one count of injury by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle, contrary to Wis. Stat. § 940.25(l)(a). Ultimately, a jury trial was scheduled for March 21,2006.
¶ 8. The parties briefly addressed jury instructions at a pretrial hearing on January 17, 2006. The State indicated that "there isn't a specific instruction dealing with causing injury by operation of a vehicle under the influence of a controlled substance." It suggested merging Wis JI — Criminal 1262 with Wis JI— Criminal 2664 to tailor an instruction to the facts of the case. This suggestion corresponded with notes 1 and 7 of the comment to Wis JI — Criminal 1262 (2004).
¶ 9. Hubbard's attorney pointed the court to Wis JI — Criminal 2600 Operating While Intoxicated: Intro ductory Comment (2004). He mentioned "materially impaired" and noted that there were "a lot of options I think for the court in this sense." The court did not rule on jury instructions at the January 17 hearing.
¶ 10. Prior to the opening of Hubbard's jury trial, Judge Wolfgram stated on the record that a jury instructions conference had been held in chambers regarding a dispute over the instruction defining "under the influence." Judge Wolfgram concluded that he was going to include the word "materially" in the jury instructions in defining "under the influence" because Hubbard was charged under the Criminal Code. Neither the State nor Hubbard objected to this decision.
¶ 11. At trial the jury was instructed in part as follows:
Section 940.25(l)(a) of the Criminal Code of Wisconsin is violated by one who causes great bodily harm to another by the operation of a vehicle while under the influence of a prescription medication.
Before you may find the defendant guilty of this offense, the State must prove by evidence which satisfies you beyond a reasonable doubt that the following three elements were present.
1. The defendant operated a vehicle....
2. The defendant's operation of a vehicle caused great bodily harm to [the victim]....
3. The defendant was under the influence of a prescription medication at the time the defendant operated a vehicle.
"Under the influence" means that the defendant's ability to operate a vehicle was materially impaired because of consumption of a prescription medication.
Not every person who has consumed Xanax or alprazolam is "under the influence" as that term is used here. What must be established is that the person has consumed a sufficient quantity of Xanax or alprazolam to cause the person to be less able to exercise the clear judgment and steady hand necessary to handle and control a motor vehicle.
It is not required that impaired ability to operate be demonstrated by particular acts of unsafe driving. What is required is that the person's ability to safely control the vehicle is materially impaired.
¶ 12. Neither party objected to the instructions, which were tendered to the jury with verdict forms for "guilty" and "not guilty."
¶ 13. According to the criminal court record, jury deliberations began at 11:05 a.m. on March 23, 2006. Shortly after 1 p.m., the jury sent a written question to Judge Wolfgram, which stated: "Could the judge define 'materially' impaired? Does this mean that he was impaired enough to have an effect on outcome? If not, what?"
¶ 14. Following the jury's question, Judge Wolf-gram heard argument from Hubbard's attorney and the State regarding how to respond. Initially Judge Wolf-gram proposed using language from Waalen to define the term "materially impaired" for the jury. The proposed language, hereinafter referred to as "the Waalen language," was:
"material impairment" under sec. 939.22(42), Stats., exists when a person is incapable of driving safely, or is without proper control of all those faculties . necessary to avoid danger to others.
Waalen, 130 Wis. 2d at 27 (citation and internal quotation marks omitted). The State objected to the court using this language to respond to the jury's request for clarification.
¶ 15. Judge Wolfgram noted that the jury's question included quotation marks around the word "materially," not the term "materially impaired." The circuit court considered sending the jury definitions of the word "material," or variations of the word "material," from Black's Law Dictionary, Webster's Dictionary, and Encarta Online Dictionary.
¶ 16. After hearing arguments from Hubbard's attorney and the State, Judge Wolfgram concluded that "the Waalen language" should not be submitted to the jury. He concluded that "the Waalen language" did not define "materially impaired"; instead, it cited two examples of circumstances that constitute material impairment. Over the objection of Hubbard's attorney, Judge Wolfgram submitted a printed note to the jury that read: "Please give all words not otherwise defined in the jury instructions their ordinary meaning."
¶ 17. The jury returned a guilty verdict at 2:13 p.m., less than one hour after receiving the court's response.
¶ 18. On April 11, 2006, Hubbard was sentenced. Prior to sentencing, Hubbard filed a motion for a new trial, arguing that Judge Wolfgram's response to the jury's request for clarification was error. The parties presented argument regarding the motion immediately after sentencing. Hubbard maintained that "the Waalen language" defined "material impairment" and asserted that the introductory comment to Wis JI — CRIMINAL 2600 also indicates that "the Waalen language" should be used to define "material impairment." Judge Wolf-gram orally denied Hubbard's motion.
¶ 19. On October 11, 2006, Hubbard filed a second motion for a new trial. He filed a second motion because his first was filed and determined prior to the entry of the judgment of conviction. Judge Wolfgram entered an order denying Hubbard's post-conviction motion for a new trial on October 19, 2006.
¶ 20. Hubbard appealed the circuit court's judgment of conviction and its orders denying his motions for a new trial. The court of appeals determined that "materially impaired" has a "peculiar meaning in the context of criminal charges" and that Waalen clarified the meaning of the term. Hubbard, 306 Wis. 2d 356, ¶ 12. The court of appeals concluded that "the Waalen language" defined "materially impaired" and that the circuit court erroneously exercised its discretion when it declined to instruct the jury on the Waalen definition of "materially impaired." Id., ¶ 17. The court of appeals reversed and remanded for a new trial in the interest of justice because it was not convinced the real controversy had been fully tried. Id., ¶ 20.
¶ 21. The State petitioned this court for review, which we granted on January 22, 2008.
II. STANDARD OF REVIEW
¶ 22. This case involves construction of the statutory term "materially impaired," which was used in a criminal jury instruction. We review jury instruction issues that involve the construction of statutory terms de novo. See State v. Harmon, 2006 WI App 214, ¶ 8, 296 Wis. 2d 861, 723 N.W.2d 732 (citing State v. Neumann, 179 Wis. 2d 687, 699, 508 N.W.2d 54 (Ct. App. 1993)).
¶ 23. A court has broad discretion in deciding whether to give a particular jury instruction. State v. Fonte, 2005 WI 77, ¶ 9, 281 Wis. 2d 654, 698 N.W.2d 594. The court's determination will not be reversed absent an erroneous exercise of discretion. State v. Miller, 231 Wis. 2d 447, 464, 605 N.W.2d 567 (Ct. App. 1999); State v. Morgan, 195 Wis. 2d 388, 448, 536 N.W.2d 425 (Ct. App. 1995).
III. ANALYSIS
¶ 24. This case involves the narrow question whether the circuit court erred when it responded to a jury's request for clarification of a word used in jury instructions by instructing the jury to "give all words not otherwise defined in the jury instructions their ordinary meaning." We are not asked to address whether the initial jury instructions provided by the court were correct for the offense charged. Neither party contends that these instructions were erroneous.
¶ 25. First, we will set forth some general principles about instructing and reinstructing a jury. Second, we will discuss this court's decision in Waalen. Finally, we will evaluate whether the circuit court's response to the jury's request for clarification was erroneous in light of Waalen.
A. General Principles
¶ 26. "The purpose of a jury instruction is to fully and fairly inform the jury of a rule or principle of law applicable to a particular case." Nommensen v. Am. Cont'l Ins. Co., 2001 WI 112, ¶ 36, 246 Wis. 2d 132, 629 N.W.2d 301 (citing Grube v. Daun, 213 Wis. 2d 533, 549, 570 N.W.2d 851 (1997); Nowatske v. Osterloh, 198 Wis. 2d 419, 428, 543 N.W.2d 265 (1996)). The objective of "an instruction is not only to state the law accurately but also to explain what the law means to persons who usually do not possess law degrees." Id. (citation and internal quotation marks omitted).
¶ 27. "Jury instructions are not to be judged in artificial isolation, but must be viewed in the context of the overall charge." State v. Pettit, 171 Wis. 2d 627, 637-38, 492 N.W.2d 633 (Ct. App. 1992) (citing Mullaney v. Wilbur, 421 U.S. 684, 704-05 (1975) (Rehnquist, J., concurring); Barrera v. State, 109 Wis. 2d 324, 330-31, 325 N.W.2d 722 (1982); State v. Reynosa, 108 Wis. 2d 499, 510, 322 N.W.2d 504 (Ct. App. 1982)). "If the overall meaning communicated by the instructions was a correct statement of the law, no grounds for reversal exist." Fischer v. Ganju, 168 Wis. 2d 834, 850, 485 N.W.2d 10 (1992) (citing White v. Leeder, 149 Wis. 2d 948, 954-55, 440 N.W.2d 557 (1989); State v. Paulson, 106 Wis. 2d 96, 108, 315 N.W.2d 350 (1982)).
¶ 28. "A circuit court has broad discretion in deciding whether to give a requested jury instruction." State v. Coleman, 206 Wis. 2d 199, 212, 556 N.W.2d 701 (1996) (citing State v. Vick, 104 Wis. 2d 678, 690, 312 N.W.2d 489 (1981))." 'The decision to give or not to give a requested jury instruction lies within the trial court's discretion' and will not be reversed absent an erroneous exercise of discretion." Arents v. ANR Pipeline Co., 2005 WI App 61, ¶ 42, 281 Wis. 2d 173, 696 N.W.2d 194 (quoting Miller, 231 Wis. 2d at 464).
¶ 29. This case involves a question regarding a circuit court's reinstruction of a jury after a request for clarification during deliberations. "The necessity for, the extent of, and the form of re-instruction rests in the sound discretion of the court." Hareng v. Blanke, 90 Wis. 2d 158, 166, 279 N.W.2d 437 (1979) (citing Seitz v. Seitz, 35 Wis. 2d 282, 300, 151 N.W.2d 86 (1967); Olson v. Siordia, 25 Wis. 2d 274, 279, 130 N.W.2d 827 (1964)).
B. State v. Waalen
¶ 30. This court's decision in Waalen is central to resolving the issue before us; therefore, it is appropriate to review Waalen before proceeding to analyze whether the circuit court's response to the jury's request for clarification was error.
¶ 31. A jury convicted David A. Waalen (Waalen) of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of an intoxicant, a violation of Wis. Stat. § 346.63(1) (a) (1981-82) of the Motor Vehicle Code. Waalen, 130 Wis. 2d at 19. The Waalen case involved a single issue: "whether the circuit court properly instructed the jury regarding the definition of'under the influence.'" Id. at 20. The circuit court instructed the jury as follows:
The phrase "under the influence of an intoxicant" covers not only the well-known and easily recognized conditions and degrees of intoxication but also any abnormal mental or physical conditions which [are] the, result of indulging in any degree in intoxicating liquors, including beer, which tends to deprive one of the clearness of intellect and self control which one would otherwise possess.
Not every person who has consumed alcoholic beverages falls within the ban of the statute. If that consumption of alcoholic beverages does not cause the person to be influenced in the ordinary and well-understood meaning of the term, the person is not under the influence of an intoxicant within the meaning of the statute.
Id. at 22. The circuit court's instruction was based largely on the 1981 version of the standard jury instruction for operating while under the influence of an intoxicant, Wis JI — Criminal 2663 (1981). Waalen, 130 Wis. 2d at 22. The 1981 standard instruction was, in turn, "virtually identical" to language this court had previously endorsed in Fond du Lac v. Hernandez, 42 Wis. 2d 473, 167 N.W.2d 408 (1969). Waalen, 130 Wis. 2d at 26.
¶ 32. Waalen contended that the circuit court erred in instructing the jury because its instruction describing "under the influence" differed from language used to define the term in the 1982 standard jury instruction as well as the definition found in Wis. Stat. § 939.22(42) of the Criminal Code. Waalen, 130 Wis. 2d at 20. He asserted that the following instruction should have been given:
"Under the influence" of an intoxicant means that a driver's ability to operate a vehicle is materially impaired because of his consumption of an alcoholic beverage.
Not every person who has consumed alcoholic beverages is "under the influence" as that term is used here. What must be established is that the person has consumed a sufficient amount of alcohol to cause him to be substantially less able to exercise the clear judgment and steady hand necessary to handle and control a motor vehicle.
It is not required that impaired ability to operate be demonstrated by particular acts of unsafe driving. What is required is that the person's ability to safely control his vehicle be materially, that is substantially, impaired.
Id. at 21 (emphasis added) (footnote omitted). Waalen's proposed jury instruction was the standard instruction found in Wis JI — Criminal 2663 (1982). Waalen, 130 Wis. 2d at 21.
¶ 33. In essence, Waalen argued that the 1982 standard jury instruction was mandatory. He asserted that the definition of "under the influence" in the Motor Vehicle Code should align with the definition of "under the influence of an intoxicant" in the 1982 standard jury instruction, based on the Criminal Code at Wis. Stat. § 939.22(42). Waalen, 130 Wis. 2d at 23. In short, Waalen argued that to prove a defendant was "under the influence" for purposes of the Motor Vehicle Code, the state was required to demonstrate that a person's consumption of alcohol "materially" or "substantially" affected his ability to drive his vehicle, as indicated in the 1982 standard jury instruction's interpretation of "under the influence of an intoxicant" in the Criminal Code. Id. at 23-24.
¶ 34. This court rejected Waalen's arguments. Id. at 26-28. First, it expressly upheld the circuit court's jury instruction, id. at 28, noting that the instruction was almost identical to the 1981 standard instruction and the one in Hernandez. Id. at 26, 28. The court concluded that the circuit court's instruction was "not inconsistent with the Criminal Code definition of 'under the influence.'" Id. at 28. It also indicated that the circuit court's definition of "under the influence" — "abnormal mental or physical conditions . which tends to deprive one of the clearness of intellect and self control which one would otherwise possess" — was an accurate description of when a driver is "under the influence" for a jury to infer that a defendant was "materially impaired" or "incapable of safely driving." Id.
¶ 35. Second, the Waalen court rejected part of the 1982 standard instruction and clarified the meaning of "material impairment," holding that "material impairment" does not mean "substantial impairment." Id. at 27.
¶ 36. The Waalen court explained why "material impairment" and "substantial impairment" are incompatible:
"Material impairment" should not be given a definition that is inconsistent with the purpose of the statute, which is to foster highway safety. In the preface to the 1981 revisions of the Criminal Code, the legislature expressly stated that its purpose was to "provide maximum safety for all users of the highways of this state" from the harm threatened by persons who operate motor vehicles while under the influence of an intoxicant. Laws of 1981, ch. 20, secs. 2051(13)(a)l and 2051(13)(b)l. See State v. Caibaiosai, 122 Wis. 2d 587, 591, 363 N.W.2d 574 (1985). Requiring "substantial impairment" of an individual's ability to operate a vehicle before that person could be found "under the influence" would be inconsistent with the expressed legislative intent because it would not provide maximum safety for all users of state highways.
Waalen, 130 Wis. 2d at 27.
¶ 37. The Waalen court then gave two examples of "material impairment," stating that " 'material impairment' under sec. 939.22(42), Stats., exists when a person is incapable of driving safely, or is without proper control of all those faculties . . . necessary to avoid danger to others." Id. at 27 (emphasis added) (citation and internal quotation marks omitted). This quoted language — "the Waalen language" — is central to the issue before us.
C. Analysis and Application of State v. Waalen
¶ 38. We must put the Waalen decision in historical context to give it proper perspective. David Waalen was involved in an automobile accident on or about May 28, 1982. Id. at 20. The date is important because the circuit court and this court utilized the 1981-82 Wisconsin Statutes in their analyses. Id.
¶ 39. In 1982 Wis. Stat. § 346.63(1) and (2) (1981-82) read in part:
Operating under influence of intoxicant. (1) No person may drive or operate a motor vehicle while:
(a) Under the influence of an intoxicant or a controlled substance or a combination of an intoxicant and a controlled substance . .
(2) (a) It is unlawful for any person to cause injury to another person by the operation of a vehicle while:
1. Under the influence of an intoxicant or a controlled substance or a combination of an intoxicant and a controlled substance. .
¶ 40. In 1982 Wis. Stat. § 940.25(1)(a) (1981-82) read:
Injury by intoxicated use of a vehicle. (1) Any person who does either of the following under par. (a) or (b) is guilty of a Class E felony:
(a) Causes great bodily harm to another human being by the operation of a vehicle while under the influence of an intoxicant or a controlled substance or a combination of an intoxicant and a controlled substance.
¶ 41. In 1982 Wis. Stat. § 939.22(42) (1981-82) defined the term "under the influence of an intoxicant" in the Criminal Code as follows:
Words and phrases defined. In chs. 939 to 948, the following words and phrases have the designated meanings unless the context of a specific section manifestly requires a different construction:
(42) "Under the influence of an intoxicant" means that the actor's ability to operate a vehicle or handle a firearm is materially impaired because of his consumption of an alcohol beverage or controlled substance under ch. 161.
¶ 42. In 1982 there was no statutory language in the Motor Vehicle Code defining "under the influence." By contrast, there was a statutory definition for that phrase in the Criminal Code. See Wis. Stat. § 939.22(42X1981-82). Thus, there was good reason for this court to seek a uniform interpretation of the words "under the influence" in the two codes, and that meant embracing the term "materially impaired" from the definition in Wis. Stat. § 939.22(42)(1981-82).
¶ 43. The court understood, however, that the definition of "under the influence of an intoxicant" in Wis. Stat. § 939.22(42) (1981-82) had been part of the Wisconsin Criminal Code since the 1955 session of the legislature. Ch. 696, Laws of 1955. In the 1955-56 Wisconsin Statutes, § 939.22(42) read: " 'Under the influence of an intoxicant' means that the actor's ability to operate a vehicle or handle a firearm is materially impaired because of his consumption of an alcoholic beverage, a narcotic drug or other intoxicating substance." Wis. Stat. § 939.22(42) (1955-56) (emphasis added). Thus, Wis. Stat. § 346.63(l)(a) and Wis. Stat. § 939.22(42) had coexisted in the statutes for three decades. Moreover, the definition of "under the influence" in § 939.22(42) was "based upon the [definition] traditionally used by the courts in this state. See, for example, Devine v. Bischel, 215 Wis. 331, 335 (1934); Steinkrause v. Eckstein, 170 Wis. 487, 491 (1920)." 5 Wisconsin Legislative Council, Judiciary Committee Report on the Criminal Code, at 17 (1953).
¶ 44. This is why the Waalen court confidently endorsed the circuit court's jury instruction, as well as the instruction in. Hernandez. See Waalen, 130 Wis. 2d at 26, 28. The court saw no incompatibility or inconsistency between the term "under the influence" in Wis. Stat. § 346.63(1)(a)(1981-82) and the phrase "materially impaired because of his consumption of an alcohol beverage" in Wis. Stat. § 939.22(42)(1981-82). However, the court was forced to repudiate the notion that "material impairment" meant "substantial impairment," as suggested by the Criminal Jury Instructions Committee, Waalen, 130 Wis. 2d at 27, because that notion appeared to undermine the purpose of the statute by raising the proof requirement for "under the influence" and because the language had no basis in statutory text or legislative history.
¶ 45. The Waalen court made the point that the Motor Vehicle Code did not contain a definition of "under the influence" "at the time th[e] case was initially tried." Id. at 25. But the court recognized that the legislature had changed the statute to a "degree" in 1984 by 1983 Wis. Act 459, § 12. See Waalen, 130 Wis. 2d at 27-28. Section 12 amended Wis. Stat. § 346.63(1)(a) (1981-82), so that the statute read:
Operating under influence of intoxicant or other drug. (1) No person may drive or operate a motor vehicle while:
(a) Under the influence of an intoxicant or a controlled substance or a combination of an intoxicant and a controlled substance, under the influence of any other drug to a degree which renders him or her incapable of safely driving, or under the combined influence of an intoxicant and any other drug to a degree which renders him or her incapable of safely driving;...
Wis. Stat. § 346.63(l)(a)(1983-84) (emphasis added).
¶ 46. The underscored language above is the language added by 1983 Wis. Act 459. This change did not modify or condition the existing language, that is, the language "under the influence of an intoxicant or a controlled substance or a combination of an intoxicant and a controlled substance." Consequently, the Waalen court was mistaken in 1986 when it implied that the language "to a degree which renders him or her incapable of safely driving" modified all provisions in subsection (a) of Wis. Stat. § 346.63(1)(1983-84). This language applied only to "any other drug" or the combination of an intoxicant and "any other drug."
¶ 47. The Waalen court was correct when it wrote: " 'material impairment' under sec. 939.22(42), Stats., exists when a person is incapable of driving safely, or is without proper control of all those faculties . . . necessary to avoid danger to others." Waalen, 130 Wis. 2d at 27 (emphasis added) (citation and internal quotation marks omitted). These phrases are used as examples. But the court was not correct if it implied that the phrase "incapable of safely driving" from Wis. Stat. § 346.63(1)(a) is part of the definition of "under the influence of an intoxicant" in Wis. Stat. § 939.22(42)(1983-84).
¶ 48. We acknowledge that 1995 Wis. Act 448 amended both Wis. Stat. § 346.63(l)(a) and Wis. Stat. § 939.22(42) in 1996, but, in our view, these amendments do not affect or alter this analysis.
¶ 49. Building on these observations, we turn to the question whether the circuit court's response to the jury's request for clarification was error in light of Waalen.
¶ 50. The State asserts that "the Waalen language" did not ascribe a "peculiar" meaning to the term "materially impaired" in the context of criminal charges; thus the circuit court's response to the jury was acceptable and did not constitute error.
¶ 51. Hubbard counters, and the court of appeals held, that Judge Wolfgram's response to the jury's request for clarification should have provided "the Waalen language" (i.e., "incapable of safely driving") because the Waalen court's discussion of "material impairment" created a "peculiar meaning in the context of criminal charges." Hubbard, 306 Wis. 2d 356, ¶ 12. Hubbard argues that this language clarified the meaning of "materially impaired" and that the circuit court should have instructed the jury accordingly.
¶ 52. We disagree. The phrase "to a degree which renders him incapable of safely driving" does not affect the definition of "under the influence" in the Criminal Code. For the circuit court to have acceded to Hubbard's request for this "clarification" it would have rewritten the statute for Hubbard's benefit. He was not entitled to such largesse.
¶ 53. The Waalen court did not give "materially impaired" a "technical" or "peculiar" meaning unique to criminal law. Specifically, "the Waalen language" was not intended to define the statutory term "materially impaired." Instead, the Waalen court used the language to describe two circumstances in which material impairment "exists." Waalen, 130 Wis. 2d at 27. These were examples, not definitions. Therefore, the Waalen court was not defining "materially impaired" with "the Waalen language."
¶ 54. Other parts of the Waalen decision indicate acceptable means for a circuit court to instruct a jury regarding the definition of "under the influence." See id. at 26, 28. Hubbard has not argued that the specific jury instructions endorsed by the Waalen court should have been given by the circuit court. These instructions would not have benefited him because "the Waalen language" is not part of any of the specific jury instructions endorsed by the Waalen court. Id. at 22, 25-26 (reciting the circuit court's instruction in Waalen and the instruction given in Hernandez). Consequently, Hubbard's argument that "the Waalen language" defined "materially impaired" to give the term a "technical" or "peculiar" meaning in the context of criminal law is untenable.
¶ 55. Thus, when the jury asked Judge Wolfgram to define" 'materially' impaired," he was on solid footing in relying on Wis. Stat. § 990.01(1), which provides in pertinent part: "All words and phrases shall be construed according to common and approved usage"; and he did not erroneously exercise his discretion when he directed the jury to "give all words not otherwise defined in the jury instructions their ordinary meaning." The court would not have been correct to give Hubbard's clarification request.
¶ 56. We note that the circuit court was also correct on the facts. The jury's request for clarification focused on the word "materially," not on the term "materially impaired." The adverb "materially" is a word more likely to crop up in a lawyer's vocabulary than in common parlance, and the jury's probing question about the word was a very good one. The court's answer, to "give all words not otherwise defined in the jury instructions their ordinary meaning" was sound, responsive, and did not constitute an erroneous exercise of discretion. (Emphasis added.)
¶ 57. The circuit court had discretion to determine the necessity for, extent of, and form of reinstruction of the jury when responding to its request for clarification. Hareng, 90 Wis. 2d at 166 (citations omitted). Judge Wolfgram could have exercised his discretion by instructing the jury to re-read the jury instructions in their possession in light of the jury's request for a definition of "materially" impaired. "[A] court is not obligated to provide a jury with information solely because the jury believes it is important to its decision." State v. Lombard, 2004 WI App 52, ¶ 20, 271 Wis. 2d 529, 678 N.W.2d 338. However, once Judge Wolfgram correctly determined that "materially impaired" was not defined by "the Waalen language," he did not erroneously exercise his discretion by responding that the jury should give undefined words in the jury instructions their ordinary meaning. "If the overall meaning communicated by the instructions was a correct statement of the law, no grounds for reversal exist." Fischer, 168 Wis. 2d at 850 (citations omitted).
¶ 58. We hold that the court of appeals erred when it determined that this court's decision in Waalen gave the statutory term "materially impaired" a "peculiar meaning in the context of criminal charges," Hubbard, 306 Wis. 2d 356, ¶ 12, and that the jury should have been instructed accordingly. Id., ¶ 17. Thus, the circuit court did not erroneously exercise its discretion when it responded to the jury's request for clarification by indicating that the jury should "give all words not otherwise defined in the jury instructions their ordinary meaning." This succinct answer may not always suffice, but it was correct on the facts presented.
IV CONCLUSION
¶ 59. We conclude that the circuit court's response to the jury's request for clarification was not error. The term "materially impaired" does not have a technical or peculiar meaning in the law beyond the time-tested explanations in standard jury instructions; therefore, the circuit court's response to the jury was not error, comported with Wis. Stat. § 990.01, and did not constitute an erroneous exercise of discretion. Accordingly, we reverse the court of appeals.
By the Court. — The decision of the court of appeals is reversed.
State v. Hubbard, 2007 WI App 240, 306 Wis. 2d 356, 742 N.W.2d 893.
All references to the Wisconsin Statutes are to the 2005-06 version unless otherwise indicated.
Xanax is a brand name for the generic prescription drug alprazolam. WebMD, Drugs and Treatments-Xanax Oral, http:// www.webmd.com/drugs/drug-9824-Xanax+Oral.aspx?drugid=9 824&drugname=Xanax+Oral (last visited June 30, 2008).
The most frequent side effects of alprazolam include drowsiness and lightheadedness. Physicians' Desk Reference 3044 (62d ed. 2007). "Manifestations of alprazolam overdosage include somnolence, confusion, impaired coordination, diminished reflexes, and coma." Id. at 3045.
The record indicates that the 13 Xanax pills consumed by Hubbard in the 24-hour period preceding the accident exceeded the dosage prescribed by his doctor.
Wis JI — Criminal 1262 deals with causing great bodily harm by operation of a vehicle while under the influence of an intoxicant in violation of Wis. Stat. § 940.25(l)(a). The instruction defines "under the influence of an intoxicant" as follows:
'Under the influence of an intoxicant" means that the defendant's ability to operate a vehicle was materially impaired because of consumption of an alcoholic beverage.
Not every person who has consumed alcoholic beverages is "•under the influence" as that term is used here. What must be established is that the person has consumed a sufficient amount of alcohol to cause the person to be less able to exercise the clear judgment and steady hand necessary to handle and control a motor vehicle.
It is not required that impaired ability to operate be demonstrated by particular acts of unsafe driving. What is required is that the person's ability to safely control the vehicle be materially impaired.
Wis JI — Criminal 1262 (2004) (footnote omitted).
Wis JI — Criminal 2664 deals with operating a vehicle under the influence of a controlled substance in violation of Wis. Stat. § 346.63(l)(a), which applies if "the total number of suspensions, revocations, and other convictions counted under s. 343.307(1) within a 10-year period, equals 2." See § 346.65(2)(am)2. The instruction defines "under the influence" as follows:
"Under the influence" means that the defendant's ability to operate a vehicle was impaired because of consumption of a controlled substance.
[Not every person who has consumed (name controlled substance) is "under the influence" as that term is used here.] What must be established is that the person has consumed a sufficient amount of (name controlled substance) to cause the person to be less able to exercise the clear judgment and steady hand necessary to handle and control a motor vehicle.
It is not required that impaired ability to operate be demonstrated by particular acts of unsafe driving. What is required is that the person's ability to safely control the vehicle be impaired.
Wis JI — Criminal 2664 (2004) (footnotes omitted).
Notes 1 and 7 of the comment to Wis JI — Criminal 1262 (2004) read as follows:
1. This instruction is drafted for cases involving the influence of an intoxicant, which is defined to include "alcohol beverage or controlled substance under ch. 961 or both,... any other drug or . an alcohol beverage and any other drug." See § 939.22(42) in note 7, below. For a model tailored to the influence of a controlled substance, see Wis JI — Criminal 2664. For a model tailored to the combined influence of an intoxicant and a controlled substance, see Wis JI — Criminal 2664A.
7. The instruction is drafted for cases involving the influence of an intoxicant. For a model tailored to the influence of a controlled substance, see Wis JI — Criminal 2664. For a model tailored to the combined influence of an intoxicant and a controlled substance, see Wis JI — Criminal 2664A. The definition in the instruction paraphrases the full definition provided in § 939.22(42):
"Under the influence of an intoxicant" means that the actor's ability to operate a vehicle or handle a firearm or airgun is materially impaired because of his or her consumption of an alcohol beverage, of a controlled substance or controlled substance analog under ch. 961, of any combination of an alcohol beverage, controlled substance and controlled substance analog, or of any other drug or of an alcohol beverage and any other drug.
For a discussion of issues relating to the definition of "under the influence," see Wis JI — Criminal 2600 Introductory Comment, Sec. VIII.
Hubbard acknowledges, as did the court of appeals, that "the standard instructions given by the trial court were arguably legally sufficient." Hubbard, 306 Wis. 2d 356, ¶ 10.
Chapter 805 of the Wisconsin Statutes, which addresses civil procedure for trials, includes a section governing reinstruction of a jury. Wisconsin Stat. § 805.13(5) states: "Reinstruction. After the jury retires, the court may reinstruct the jury as to all or any part of the instructions previously given, or may give supplementary instructions as it deems appropriate."
Wisconsin Stat. § 972.10, the Criminal Code counterpart to Wis. Stat. § 805.13, does not include a specific provision governing reinstruction of a jury.
The jury instruction for "under the influence of an intoxicant" that this court endorsed in Fond du Lac v. Hernandez, 42 Wis. 2d 473, 475-76, 167 N.W.2d 408 (1969), was:
The expression "under the influence of an intoxicant" covers not only all the well-known and easily recognized conditions and degrees of intoxication, but any abnormal mental or physical condition which is the result of indulging in any degree in intoxicating liquors, including beer, and which tends to deprive him of that clearness of intellect and control of himself which he would otherwise possess.
A person who is even to the slightest extent under the influence of an intoxicant in the common and well-understood acceptation of the term is — to some degree at least — less able either mentally or physically, or both, to exercise the clear judgment and steady hand necessary to handle as powerful and dangerous a mechanism as a modern motor vehicle with safety to himself and the public. Not every man who has consumed alcoholic beverages falls within the ban of the statute. If that consumption of alcoholic beverages does not cause him to be influenced in the ordinary and well understood meaning of the term, he is not under the influence of an intoxicant within the meaning of the statute or ordinance in this particular case.
The Waalen court noted that the "incapable of safely driving" language was added to Wis. Stat. § 346.63(1)(a) (1983-84), the Motor Vehicle Code provision dealing with operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant. State v. Waalen, 130 Wis. 2d 18, 27-28, 386 N.W.2d 47 (1986).
The court indicated that the Jury Instructions Commit tee had revised the 1981 standard instruction to eliminate a perceived inconsistency between the definitions of "under the influence" in the Motor Vehicle Code and the Criminal Code. Id. at 26. However, in doing so, the Jury Instructions Committee erred when it revised the 1981 instruction to define "material" as "substantial," citing no authority for the revision. Id. at 27.
1995 Wis. Act 448 adopted the revised Uniform Controlled Substances Act and made other changes in the statutes relating to controlled substances. These changes included adding the phrase "controlled substance analog" to Wis. Stat. § 346.63 and Wis. Stat. § 939.22(42), as well as multiple other sections. 1995 Wis. Act 448, § 342, 445. These changes had no effect on the limited application of "incapable of safely driving."
Hubbard's position regarding "the Waalen language" also runs contrary to common sense. Wisconsin Stat. § 939.22 acts like a dictionary for the Criminal Code. It is counterintuitive that a statutory definition in Wis. Stat. § 939.22(42), which is undeniably intended to create a unique and peculiar meaning for a term in the law, would have imbedded within it another "technical" or "peculiar" explanatory term requiring further definition. This interpretation would render statutory language virtually impenetrable, which belies the inherent premise of Wis. Stat. § 990.01(1) and the specific definitions found in Wis. Stat. § 939.22 — clarity.