Opinion ID: 2612553
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: statutory allocation of burden of proof as to self-defense

Text: In State v. Roberts, supra at 344-46, we determined that the State had the burden of proving, beyond a reasonable doubt, the absence of self-defense in a murder prosecution. That case arose under the old criminal code, which provided that a killing was murder or manslaughter unless it was excusable or justifiable. Laws of 1909, ch. 249, §§ 140, 141, 143, p. 930-31. One of the enumerated justifications for homicide was self-defense. Laws of 1909, ch. 249, § 154, p. 934. In 1975, the Legislature repealed the old criminal code and adopted a new criminal code which omitted the excusable or justifiable language from the definition of homicide. RCW 9A.32.030; RCW 9A.32.050; RCW 9A.32.060; RCW 9A.32.070. The Legislature also placed the homicide justification of self-defense under the provisions of RCW 9A.16, entitled Defenses. See RCW 9A.16.020(3) and RCW 9A.16.050(1) and (2). Thereafter, in State v. King, 92 Wn.2d 541, 599 P.2d 522 (1979), we were again presented with the issue of which party had the burden of proof as to self-defense in a murder prosecution. In that case, we found the trial court's jury instruction on self-defense sufficiently permitted the defendant to argue his theory of the case, i.e., that the State had not sustained the burden of proving beyond a reasonable doubt that the homicide was not committed in self-defense. King, at 546. Therefore, we did not reach the question of whether the State had placed the burden of proving self-defense on the defendant by removing the words unless it is excusable or justifiable from the new criminal code's definition of homicide. In a footnote in King, however, we made the following observation with respect to self-defense in murder prosecutions: Because we do not reach this issue in the present opinion, we need not address the issues raised in State v. Bradley, 20 Wn. App. 340, 581 P.2d 1053 (1978). We note, however, that the rule of Patterson v. New York, 432 U.S. 197, 53 L.Ed.2d 281, 97 S.Ct. 2319 (1977), may not be applicable in this case. In Patterson, the court upheld a New York requirement that the defendant affirmatively prove by a preponderance of the evidence extreme emotional disturbance as a means to mitigate his culpability for unlawful homicide. The court stated, at page 206, that: It is plain enough that if the intentional killing is shown, the State intends to deal with the defendant as a murderer unless he demonstrates the mitigating circumstances. It cannot be said, however, that under Washington's statutory scheme the State intends to deal with the defendant as a murderer unless he shows self-defense, because under Washington law a killing done in self-defense is a lawful act. See RCW 9A.16.050. See also Porter v. Leeke, 457 F. Supp. 253 (D.S.C. 1978). Therefore, we perceive serious questions regarding the appropriateness of applying the ruling in Patterson to the defense of self-defense as set forth in this state's criminal code. King, at 546 n. 3. The issue is now before us. We find nothing in the new statutory scheme to indicate the Legislature reallocated the burden of proof with respect to self-defense. The Legislature, in drafting the new criminal code, clearly set forth the requirement that a defendant must bear the burden of proving certain defenses to certain crimes by a preponderance of the evidence: RCW 9A.12.010 (insanity); RCW 9A.32.030(1)(c)-.050(1)(b) (felony murder); RCW 9A.40.030 (kidnapping); RCW 9A.44.030 (sexual offenses); RCW 9A.48.060 (reckless burning); RCW 9A.76.100 (compounding a crime). The Legislature has also provided that a defendant may rebut certain inferences by presenting evidence raising reasonable inferences to the contrary: RCW 9A.52.040 (presumption of intent to deprive or defraud  burglary); RCW 9A.56.140 (presumption of knowledge that credit cards are stolen). In stark contrast, the new criminal code is conspicuously silent on the quantum or burden of proof as to self-defense. [5] The above cited provisions indicate the Legislature was well aware of the question of burdens of proof. In construing legislation, we presume the Legislature is familiar with past judicial interpretations of its enactments. State v. Fenter, 89 Wn.2d 57, 62, 569 P.2d 67 (1977). In the absence of an indication from the Legislature that it intended to overrule the common law, new legislation will be presumed to be in line with prior judicial decisions in a field of law. Neil F. Lampson Equip. Rental & Sales, Inc. v. West Pasco Water Sys., Inc., 68 Wn.2d 172, 175-76, 412 P.2d 106 (1966). By choosing not to employ similar language setting out the burden of proof as to self-defense, the Legislature indicated the continuing validity of the existing law on self-defense burdens of proof. Under the rule of State v. Roberts, 88 Wn.2d 337, 562 P.2d 1259 (1977), the prosecution bears the burden of proving beyond a reasonable doubt the absence of self-defense. This construction of the new code is entirely consistent with the surrounding statutory scheme. RCW 9A.04.100 states every defendant is presumed innocent unless proved guilty, and RCW 9A.04.020(1)(b) states the provisions of the code should be interpreted [t]o safeguard conduct that is without culpability from condemnation as criminal. [6, 7] It is presumed that the Legislature does not engage in unnecessary or meaningless acts. State v. Wanrow, 88 Wn.2d 221, 228, 559 P.2d 548 (1977). Consequently, to interpret the statutory language changes regarding homicide and self-defense so that the Legislature's acts are not rendered superfluous or insignificant, see Snow's Mobile Homes, Inc. v. Morgan, 80 Wn.2d 283, 288, 494 P.2d 216 (1972), we must conclude that such changes were intended to relieve the prosecution of the necessity of pleading the absence of self-defense. By removing the words unless it is excusable or justifiable from the definition of homicide and including self-defense under the provisions of RCW 9A.16, entitled Defenses, the Legislature merely relieved the State of the time-consuming and unnecessary task of alleging and proving negative propositions which may not be involved in each case. Once the issue of self-defense is properly raised, however, the absence of self-defense becomes another element of the offense which the State must prove beyond a reasonable doubt. Roberts, at 345-46. See also People v. Williams, 80 Ill. App.3d 963, 968, 400 N.E.2d 532 (1980). Since the Legislature has not clearly imposed the burden of proving self-defense on criminal defendants, we conclude the obligation to prove the absence of self-defense remains at all times with the prosecution. Roberts, at 345. Even assuming arguendo that the new criminal code places the burden of proof on petitioner to establish self-defense, that burden can be constitutional only if self-defense does not negate one or more of the essential ingredients of murder in the first degree. See Mullaney v. Wilbur, 421 U.S. 684, 44 L.Ed.2d 508, 95 S.Ct. 1881 (1975); State v. Hanton, 94 Wn.2d 129, 614 P.2d 1280, cert. denied, 449 U.S. 1035, 66 L.Ed.2d 497, 101 S.Ct. 611 (1980).