Opinion ID: 1041292
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Camara and Gregory are Incorrect and Harmful

Text: Under the doctrine of stare decisis, this court will overturn precedent only if it is incorrect and harmful. City of Federal Way v. Koenig, 167 Wn.2d 341, 343, 217 P.3d 1172 (2009). For the reasons outlined above, this court's decisions in Bills: S.B. 1207 and HB. 5802, submitted to the H. Judiciary Comm. on Apr. 23, 1974))); see also People v. Jansson, 116 Mich. App. 674, 683, 323 N.W.2d 508 (1982) (to prove force or coercion as those terms are defined in the statute is to establish that the victim did not consent). 30 State v. Lynch (Jeffrey Thomas), No. 87882-0 (Gordon McCloud, J., Concurrence) Camara and Gregory are incorrect. They are also harmful, 45 as they continue to be relied upon by lower courts to the detriment of defendants' due process rights. In the past decade, at least nine appellate decisions have cited Camara or Gregory for the principle that a defendant charged with sexual intercourse or contact by forcible compulsion may be required to prove by a preponderance that the accuser consented. 46 This requirement is tantamount to a presumption of guilt. This case presents an opportunity to correct the errors made in Camara and Gregory. I would take that opportunity and address the defendant's meritorious due process argument. 45 This court has overturned precedent as harmful where it threatens a fundamental principle of constitutional law. See State v. Barber, 170 Wn.2d 854, 871-72, 248 P.3d 494 (2011) (overturning case law that threatens separation of powers). 46 State v. Williams, noted at 175 Wn. App. 1003 (2013); State v. W.R., noted at 171 Wn. App. 1019 (2012); State v. Lynch, noted at 170 Wn. App. 1001; State v. Mohamed, noted at 159 Wn. App. 1028 (2011); State v. Buzzell, 148 Wn. App. 592, 200 P.3d 287 (2009); State v. Whitt, noted at 139 Wn. App. 1082 (2007); State v. Matt, noted at 138 Wn. App. 1025 (2007); State v. Speight, noted at 136 Wn. App. 1006 (2006); State v. Bolar, 118 Wn. App. 490, 78 P.3d 1012 (2003). 31 State v. Lynch (Jeffrey Thomas), No. 87882-0 (Gordon McCloud, J., Concurrence) ~~!hac!;J- _Jtft~, --~~-/)-, - vv~r . 1() _ _- 11/e~-~ c 9- J 32