Opinion ID: 1121511
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 12

Heading: Jury Verdict and Selection.

Text: Petitioners claim that the Statute provides an inadequate burden of proof by failing to require a unanimous verdict. The Statute is silent on the issue, but we believe that it must be construed to afford an individual the right to a unanimous 12-person verdict. [34, 35] Our primary goal in interpreting statutes is to carry out the intent of the Legislature. Anderson v. O'Brien, 84 Wn.2d 64, 67, 524 P.2d 390 (1974). The sexually violent predator Statute requires the State to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the person is a sexually violent predator. RCW 71.09.060(1). The Legislature's use of the beyond a reasonable doubt standard suggests an acute awareness of the need for heightened procedural protections in these proceedings. Moreover, in Washington, the beyond a reasonable doubt standard generally requires a unanimous verdict. See State v. Petrich, 101 Wn.2d 566, 569, 683 P.2d 173 (1984). Considering the context normally associated with this high burden of proof, State v. Elgin, 118 Wn.2d 551, 556, 825 P.2d 314 (1992), we find that the Legislature included the need for a unanimous verdict when it required proof beyond a reasonable doubt in the statutory scheme. Here, over defense objections, the jury in Cunningham's trial was not instructed that unanimity was required, and an 11-to-1 verdict was returned  at least one person on the jury felt that the State failed to meet its burden. Under the standards announced here, the verdict was insufficient. In Young's case, the verdict was unanimous, and the jury's finding is affirmed. Petitioners also contend that they are entitled to 12 peremptory challenges at trial. Young requested the additional challenges at a pretrial hearing. The trial court refused, and apparently gave three challenges to each side, plus an additional challenge to be used for the alternate seat. Cunningham also requested additional challenges. The trial court granted six challenges per side plus one for each alternate. Neither petitioner claims that he was prejudiced by the allegedly insufficient number of challenges; indeed, neither petitioner even submits the record of voir dire. [36] Petitioners argue that because the Statute subjects them to indefinite incarceration, they should be afforded the same number of peremptory challenges as defendants in capital cases under CrR 6.4. We disagree. The proceedings here are civil, not criminal, in nature. Thus, the appropriate number of challenges is found in RCW 4.44.130, which deals with civil juries: Each party shall be entitled to three peremptory challenges. See also 14 Lewis H. Orland & Karl B. Tegland, Wash. Prac., Trial Practice Civil § 206, at 334 (4th ed. 1986). This is the same number of peremptory challenges allowed in RCW 71.05 civil commitment proceedings. See MPR 3.4(a). Therefore, three peremptory challenges are sufficient.