Opinion ID: 2786680
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Standard of Review and Maine Law

Text: [¶4] We review the validity of a statute de novo. State v. Haskell, 2001 ME 154, ¶ 3, 784 A.2d 4. “[A] statute is presumed to be constitutional and the person challenging the constitutionality has the burden of establishing its infirmity.” Id. (quotation marks omitted). In a void-for-vagueness challenge, we do not analyze the statute to ascertain if it is valid on its face, but instead assess the challenge “by testing it in the circumstances of the individual case and considering 3 whether the statutory language was sufficiently clear to give the defendant adequate notice that his conduct was proscribed.” State v. Aboda, 2010 ME 125, ¶ 15, 8 A.3d 719 (quotation marks omitted). [¶5] The due process clauses of the United States and Maine Constitutions “require that a statute must provide reasonable and intelligible standards to guide the future conduct of individuals and to allow the courts and enforcement officials to effectuate the legislative intent in applying these laws.” State v. Peck, 2014 ME 74, ¶ 10, 93 A.3d 256 (quotation marks omitted). Additionally, “[a] statute should define the criminal offense with sufficient definiteness that ordinary people can understand what conduct is prohibited and in a manner that does not encourage arbitrary and discriminatory enforcement.” State v. Preston, 2011 ME 98, ¶ 8, 26 A.3d 850 (quotation marks omitted). However, “[n]ot every ambiguity, uncertainty or imprecision of language in a statutory pattern rises to the level of being unconstitutionally void for vagueness.” Id. Legislation will not be void for vagueness if any reasonable construction will support it. State v. Witham, 2005 ME 79, ¶ 7, 876 A.2d 40.