Opinion ID: 1637248
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Capital Murder Instruction

Text: As the majority notes, Grillot argues that the model jury instruction erroneously states the law. However, as the majority also notes, Grillot was acquitted of capital murder. Therefore, a decision of this court with respect to the model jury instruction on capital murder would have no impact on Grillot. The issue is not one of prejudice. Rather, the acquittal on capital murder renders the issue moot. In Arkansas, an issue becomes moot when any judgment rendered would have no practical legal effect upon a then existing legal controversy. Bohanan v. State, 336 Ark. 367, 985 S.W.2d 708 (1999). Because the issue is moot, it need not be addressed, and therefore, the discussion of harmless error is unnecessary and confusing. Jury Instructions on Lesser-Included Offenses This case includes the issue of whether the trial court erred in instructing the jury on the lesser-included offense when Grillot argued that he had no involvement in the murder. This court has never answered the question of whether the trial court is obligated under Ark. Code Ann. § 5-1-110 (Repl.1997), to instruct on lesser-included offenses when the defendant does not want the instruction. See State v. Jones, 321 Ark. 451, 903 S.W.2d 170 (1995). The dissent in State v. McCormack, 343 Ark. 285, 34 S.W.3d 735 (2000), also notes that the issue has never been addressed by this court. Although the issue has not been addressed in the past because it was raised by the State, and the appeal was declined under Ark. R.App. P.Crim. 3, the issue is now raised by a criminal defendant and should be addressed by the court. The majority has discussed the issue as if this were an appeal by a criminal defendant who requested, but was denied a lesser-included instruction. That is not the case. Here, the issue involves an instruction requested by the State. The majority cites Britt v. State, 344 Ark. 13, 38 S.W.3d 363 (2001), for the proposition that a lesser-included offense instruction is appropriate when it is supported by even the slightest evidence. Britt, supra , is not on point. The slightest evidence analysis in Britt refers to a request for an instruction by a criminal defendant. A criminal defendant is entitled to an instruction whenever the slightest evidence exists to support it. Whether the State is likewise entitled to an instruction when the slightest evidence supports it is a question that has not been answered by this court. Doby, supra , also cited by the majority, involves a request by a criminal defendant for an instruction. In Doby , this court noted that Doby, in denying any involvement in the crimes, was taking an all or nothing approach in his case, and therefore, there was no rational basis for instructing the jury on a lesser-included offense. Similarly, in Roberts v. State, 281 Ark. 218, 663 S.W.2d 178 (1984), this court held that where the appellant denied any theft whatever, his request for an instruction on the lesser-included offense of theft by receiving was not rational, and the trial court committed no error in refusing to instruct the jury on the lesser-included offense. In Brown v. State, 321 Ark. 413, 903 S.W.2d 160 (1995), the case involved unlawful delivery of cocaine. In Brown, the appellant's proof established that she was elsewhere and innocent of participating in the cocaine transaction. The court held that it defies common sense to give the jury the lesser-included instruction on possession of cocaine that she requested. The court stated: In other words, if Brown was not present when the drug sale occurred, she logically could not be present and participate in a lesser offense. Such a proffered instruction could do nothing but confuse a jury. Thus, we hold the trial court was correct in refusing it. Brown, 321 Ark. at 416, 903 S.W.2d 160. In another case where the charge and proof by the State were for the actual delivery of marijuana, there was no rational basis for instruction on the lesser-included offense of possession requested by the appellant. Whitener v. State, 311 Ark. 377, 843 S.W.2d 853 (1992). Section 5-1-110 provides that the trial court is not obligated to instruct on a lesser-included offense unless there is a rational basis for concluding that the criminal defendant might be acquitted of the crime charged and convicted of the lesser-included offense. The cases cited above arise from requests by criminal defendants for instructions on lesser-included offenses. This court must address the issue of whether the State is entitled to an instruction when there is a rational basis for doing so. The majority has not provided this analysis or answered the question posed by this issue. See Jones, supra; McCormack, supra . Based on the foregoing, I respectfully dissent. THORNTON, J., joins. CORBIN, J., not participating.