Opinion ID: 889636
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: 2009 Legislative Changes

Text: ¶13 The central theme of Daniels’ arguments is that the District Court erred by making rulings in violation of legislation enacted by the 2009 Legislature. HB 228 proposed an act “preserving and clarifying laws relating to the right of self-defense and the right to bear arms.” Laws of Montana, 2009, ch. 332, at 2271 (emphasis omitted). Under prior law, the State bore the burden of proving the elements of the charged offense beyond a reasonable doubt, but it did not need to prove “the absence of justification.” State v. 7 Henson, 2010 MT 136, ¶ 33, 356 Mont. 458, 235 P.3d 1274 (citing State v. Longstreth, 1999 MT 204, ¶ 22, 295 Mont. 457, 984 P.2d 157; additional citation omitted). In Longstreth, we explained that “as an affirmative defense, justifiable use of force requires the defendant to produce sufficient evidence on the issue to raise a reasonable doubt of his guilt and that the State’s burden is to prove beyond a reasonable doubt the elements of the offense charged, which does not include the absence of justification.” Longstreth, ¶ 22 (emphasis added). ¶14 The sponsor of HB 228, Representative Kerns, indicated to the House Judiciary Committee that the bill “shifts the burden to the prosecutor to prove . . . the absence of justification” in self-defense claims. Mont. H. Comm. on Jud., Hearing on H. Bill 228, 61st Legis., Reg. Sess., (Jan. 22, 2009). Committee discussion on HB 228 expressly referred to Longstreth. Mont. H. Comm. on Jud., Hearing on H. Bill 228, 61st Legis., Reg. Sess., Exhibit 3, at 1-2 (Jan. 22, 2009) (noting HB 228’s provision on the burden of proof for justifiable use of force “is important and needed to clarify law in Montana resulting from the 1999 Longstreth opinion by the Montana Supreme Court”). Rep. Kerns explained that the “meat of the bill” was that “you are innocent until proven guilty in terms of self-defense. That the State must prove an absence of justification beyond a reasonable doubt with respect to self-defense claims. That’s the foundation of our judicial system in this nation, and we’re just specifying that it applies to self-defense claims as it does [to] every other aspect of the law.” Mont. Sen. Comm. on Jud., Hearing 8 on H. Bill 228, 61st Legis., Reg. Sess., (Mar. 17, 2009). HB 228 included a provision which is now codified as § 46-16-131, MCA (2009): Justifiable use of force – burden of proof. In a criminal trial, when the defendant has offered evidence of justifiable use of force, the state has the burden of proving beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant’s actions were not justified. See also Laws of Montana, 2009, ch. 332, § 9, at 2275. The enactment of HB 228 effectively abrogated Longstreth, Henson and other cases to the extent they held that the burden of proof for the defense of justifiable use of force (JUOF) was on the defendant.2 ¶15 Daniels further argues that the passage of HB 228 “reversed the long-held rule in Montana that justifiable use of force” is an affirmative defense, apparently because defendants have historically been required to prove affirmative defenses. See State v. Gratzer, 209 Mont. 308, 318, 682 P.2d 141, 146 (1984). However, this argument overstates the effect of the legislation. Section 45-3-115, MCA, unchanged by HB 228, continues to provide that JUOF is an affirmative defense, which we have defined as “one that admits the doing of the act charged, but seeks to justify, excuse or mitigate it.” State v. Nicholls, 200 Mont. 144, 150, 649 P.2d 1346, 1350 (1982). A defendant is still required to provide written notice to the prosecutor of his intention to rely upon the defense of JUOF. Section 46-15-323(2), MCA. And, while the Legislature provided that the burden of proof can ultimately be shifted to the State, it placed the initial burden of evidence production upon the defendant. Under § 46-16-131, MCA (2009), the 2 See e.g. State v. Matz, 2006 MT 348, 335 Mont. 201, 150 P.3d 367; State v. Daniels, 210 Mont. 1, 682 P.2d 173 (1984); State v. Kutnyak, 211 Mont. 155, 685 P.2d 901 (1984). 9 defendant has the initial burden to “offer[] evidence of justifiable use of force” before the burden of proof is shifted to the State. If the defendant offers no evidence, then he fails to satisfy his initial burden and the defense fails. See § 26-1-401, MCA (“The initial burden of producing evidence as to a particular fact is on the party who would be defeated if no evidence were given on either side. Thereafter, the burden of producing evidence is on the party who would suffer a finding against him in the absence of further evidence.”). Accordingly, though the ultimate burden of proof can be shifted to the State, JUOF still operates as an affirmative defense. ¶16 We also disagree with Daniels’ implication that by providing pre-trial notice of his intention to rely on JUOF as a defense, he satisfied his burden under § 46-16-131, MCA (2009), to “offer[] evidence,” and thereby shifted the burden of proof to the State. Notice does not place the defense of JUOF at issue during the trial. City of Red Lodge v. Nelson, 1999 MT 246, ¶ 13, 296 Mont. 190, 989 P.2d 300; State v. Logan, 156 Mont. 48, 65, 473 P.2d 833, 842 (1970) (the notice of self-defense served by defendant on the State pre-trial is immaterial and does not place the matter into issue during trial; defendant is not bound to rely on this defense at trial, notwithstanding service on the State).3