Opinion ID: 1985092
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Other Approaches

Text: Representing a third line of authority are cases in which persons have, in fact, been convicted of conspiracy to commit second degree murder, but in which the issue of whether such a crime exists was either not raised or, if raised, was not considered. See, for example, State v. Barrett, 132 Ariz. 106, 644 P.2d 260 (App. 1981), modified, 132 Ariz. 88, 644 P.2d 242 (1982), overruled in part, State v. Burge, 167 Ariz. 25, 804 P.2d 754 (1990) (issue not raised); People v. LaPlant, 670 P.2d 802 (Colo.App.1983) (issue raised but not addressed because not raised at trial); Connelly v. State, 704 So.2d 590 (Fla.App.1997) (issue not raised); Powlowski v. State, 467 So.2d 334 (Fla.App.1985); State v. Tatum, 618 So.2d 1164 (La.App.1993) (guilty plea); State v. Bridges, 480 So.2d 926 (La.App. 1985) (guilty plea); People v. Arroyo, 93 N.Y.2d 990, 695 N.Y.S.2d 537, 717 N.E.2d 696 (1999) (issue not raised); In re Estate of Gibbs, 490 N.W.2d 504 (S.D.1992) (guilty plea); State v. Klump, 80 Wash.App. 391, 909 P.2d 317 (1996) (guilty plea); Rude v. State, 851 P.2d 20 (Wyo.1993) (plea of nolo contendere). The most that can be said for this third line of cases is that it constitutes a tacit and uncritical recognition that the crime exists. The fourth line of cases are those in which the crime of conspiracy to commit second degree murder has been assumed to exist by statute. In none of those cases was the issue before us considered. See, for example, Com. v. Fortune, 305 Pa.Super. 441, 451 A.2d 729 (1982); People v. Arroyo, supra, 93 N.Y.2d 990, 695 N.Y.S.2d 537, 717 N.E.2d 696; State v. Kaakimaka, 84 Hawai'i 280, 933 P.2d 617 (1997). Those cases are of no assistance in a common law analysis. See also 705 Ill. Comp. Stat. §§ 405/1-2, 405/2-13, and 405/2-13.1, making reference to the crime of conspiracy to commit second degree murder.