Legal Document

432 U.S. 233 97 Supreme Court Reporter 2339 53 United States Reports Lawyer’s Edition 2d Series KF101.8 U54 306 Johnnie baron HANKERSON, Petitioner,v.State of NORTH CAROLINA. Number 75-6568. Argued Feb. 23, 1977. Decided June 17, Syllabus Prior to the decision in Mullaney versus Wilbur, 421 684, 95 1881, 44 508, petitioner was convicted a North Carolina court second-degree murder over his claim that he acted self-defense. The trial judge had instructed jury if State proved beyond reasonable doubt intentionally killed victim with deadly weapon law raised presumptions killing unlawful and it done malice, order excuse act prove jury's "satisfaction" Court, affirmed petitioner's objection such instructions, refusing give retroactive application Mullaney. Although holding burden "satisfy" fact is not "significantly less" than persuasion by preponderance evidence therefore charge erroneous under Mullaney, which required establish all elements criminal offense invalidated shifted proving defendant, concluded would have devastating impact on administration justice. Held: 1. erred declining hold rule retroactive. Ivan V. City New York, 407 203, 92 1951, 32 659. While deciding whether new constitutional be applied retroactively proper consider State's reliance old justice degree enhances integrity factfinding process sufficiently small, " 'where major purpose doctrine overcome an aspect substantially impairs its truth-finding function so raises serious questions about accuracy guilty verdicts past trials, (is) given complete effect.' Id., at 204, 1952 (emphasis supplied). falls within this latter category, since designed diminish probability innocent person thus "substantially function." Pp. 240-244. 2. Nor can Court's judgment ground that, even retroactively, court's instructions left disproving self-defense prosecution, or least did require accused evidence, violate rule. construed contrary, interpretation matter state law, there no basis for disagreeing it. 244-245. 288 N.C. 632, 220 South Eastern Reporter, 2nd 575, reversed. Lawrence G. Diedrick, Rocky Mount, N.C., petitioner. Charles M. Hensey, Raleigh, N. C., respondent. Mr. Justice WHITE delivered opinion Court. 1 issue case correctly declined L.Ed. 508 (1975). 2 * Petitioner Hankerson after sentenced 20-25 years prison. It conceded man named Gregory Ashe shooting him through heart pistol 11 night September 29, 1974. relevant described below. 3 two friends, Dancy Whitley, were, according testimony two, driving around Ashe's car evening 29. They went pool hall shortly before Page m. and, discovering closed, returned car. start. asked companions light cigarette, but neither one. Whitley began walking home, one block away. followed him. Then decided return try "crank" Dancy, Whitley's testimony, ran Whitley. Both testified they then heard gunshot, yell been shot, saw speed body found hour, when was, fully burned cigarette lodged between fingers. 4 very slowly because holes road someone light. Through mirror men. One, i. e., Ashe, walked up driver's window. pushed lighter gave Ashe. When returned, felt shake other door, locked. grabbed shoulder right hand, put knife throat hand. gun shot fell inside drove Shortly murder, recovered policeman from readily admitted time told story roughly equivalent testimony. 5 introduced tending never seen type car; falsely claimed who questioned longer possession gun; handed, though wielded hand; although police grease mark shirt him, hand examined. argued summation still had, as testified, used hands attack 6 (1, 2) instructed, part, follows: 7 "I you find defendant second must things doubt, first, without justification malice . ."1 App. 9 added). 8 constituted intentional killing.2 However, jury: "If proves weapon, inflicted wound upon proximately caused death, presumptions; unlawful, second, malice. will some & N Dec. Immigration Nationality Decisions about, but, nothing else appearing, are satisfied those murder. 10 ". (I)n altogether grounds self-defense, simply your satisfaction self-defense." added).3 proceeded instruct self-defense.4 No made any these trial, 12 objected above-quoted portions first direct review Carolina. He placed persuade guilty, unlawful; Due Process Clause Fourteenth amendment (1975), crime, including unlawfulness here absence 13 agreed essential ingredient 648-652, 587-589 ruled recently cases, Under contained judge's once shown, held jurors them evidence. supra, which, despite longstanding practice contrary 1864 proof respect defendant. stated future cases: 14 mandatory presumption disappears logical inferences facts may weighed against If considering existence guilty." 651-652, S.E.2d, 589. 15 Petitioner's conviction nevertheless affirmed, announced inapplicable handed down conclusion trial.5 In apply Wilbur trials occurring date decided, recognized 659 (1972), we our earlier re Winship, 397 358, 90 1068, 25 368 (1970), effect Federal Constitution requires reasonable-doubt standard juvenile proceedings. also V., dealing primary prevent persons. Even so, country view number murderers released many whom could now retried eight identified placing Accordingly, decided. 16 (3) This granted Hankerson's petition writ certiorari, single question should 429 815, 56, 50 75. has filed answering brief argues (1) correct retroactive; (2) event below leave contravention These only issues treat order.6 II 17 (4) supra. U.S., 204-205, S.Ct., 1952, addressed supra applicable proceedings retroactively. said: 18 'Where effect. Neither good-faith federal authorities prior accepted practice, nor severe sufficed prospective circumstances.' Williams States, 401 646, 653, 91 1148, 1152, 28 388 (1971). See Adams Illinois, 405 278, 280, 916, 918, 31 202 (1972); Roberts Russell, 392 293, 295, 88 1921, 1922, 20 1100 (1968). 19 "Winship expressly 'is prime instrument reducing risk convictions resting factual error. provides concrete substance innocence bedrock "axiomatic elementary" principle whose "enforcement lies foundation law" "Due commands shall lose liberty unless Government borne convincing factfinder guilt." To end, indispensable, "impresses trier necessity reaching subjective certitude issue." ' 363-364, (1068), 1072. "Plainly, then, Winship function, effect." 1952. 21 controls case. due circumstances rather lesser more easily liberty. 22 Respondent seek avoid force grounds. First, thought justifiably relied validity burden-shifting flowing whereas known, Second, viewed far Winship. involved juveniles, while affect murderers. 23 recognizes rely pre-Winship respondent claims traditionally inquired only, into extent justified See, e. g., Stovall Denno, 87 1967, 1199 (1967); Johnson Jersey, 384 719, 86 1772, 882 (1966); Tehan ex rel. Shott, 382 406, 82 459, 415 Linkletter Walker, 381 618, 85 1731, 601 (1965). where improve "integrity process," nonretroactive otherwise (holding requirement Wade, 218, 1926, 1149 (1967), counsel present pretrial lineup); (1972) Coleman Alabama, 399 1, 1999, 26 387 preliminary hearing). 24 (5, 6) avoided easily. true said enhance "degree," 729, 1778; looked supra; DeStefano Woods, 631, 2093, 1308 But deviated '(w)here "substantial"7 Respondent's attempt distinguish merit.8 III (7, 8) next support instruction acquit entertains subject, nearly violation impermissibly argument squarely construction That places "no greater same significantly less evidence." 648, 587. charge, essentially law. Since prosecution disprove either party case, decline now. Reversed. 27 REHNQUIST took part consideration BLACKMUN, Chief joins, concurring. 29 join wish emphasize, however, correctness ruling see ante, 240 n. 6, page, does way preclude re-examining remand, today's Patterson 197, 2319, 281. 30 MARSHALL, concurring judgment. 665, 1159, (1971), expressed "a construing cases involving yet final rendered." For reasons persuasively Harlan, Mackey 667, 675, 1160, 1164, 404 "cases receive full benefit supervening decisions." 1159. recent struggles problem retroactivity, see, Michigan Payne, 412 47, 93 1966, 36 736 (1973), little "the inevitable costs anomalies current approach." 666, 286, 921 (Douglas, J., dissenting); 59, 1973 (Marshall, dissenting). remain committed approach outlined my Williams.* review, concur applied. add, BLACKMUN's statement, 245, irrespective applicability 281, remains free construe own individuals protection afforded original Manson Brathwaite, 98, 128-129, 9, 2243, 2260, 140 Washington, 431 181, 193-194, 1814, 1821-1822, 52 238 (1977) (Brennan, Oregon Mathiason, 492, 499, 711, 716, 714 33 POWELL, 34 Twelve ago intervening years, struggled retroactivity rules affecting adopted. Beytagh, Ten Years Non-Retroactivity: A Critique Proposal, 61 Va.L.Rev. 1557, 1558-1596 emerged satisfactory. several occasions joined application, am persuaded wiser adopt urged Harlan 675-702, 1171-1185, (1971) (separate opinion). Desist 394 244, 256-269, 89 1030, 1037-1044, 248 (1969) (Harlan, 665-666, 1158-1159, dissenting part). 35 declines retroactive, chance beneficiary lucky individual chosen occasion announcing enjoys others similarly situated their adjudicated doctrine. hardly comports ideal "administration hand." 255 dissenting).1 On result costs. Convictions long regarded reconsidered collateral attack; frequently overturned unrelated guilt prisoner, spite adherence police, prosecutors, courts what understood acceptable procedures. Society suffers judicial prosecutorial resources entailed retrial miscarriage occurs offender set effective impossible offense. Reopening carries disadvantages convicted: 37 "Both society interest insuring point certainty comes end litigation, attention ultimately focused error prisoner restored useful place community." Sanders 373 24-25, 83 1082, 148 (1963) 38 Schneckloth Bustamonte, 262, 2041, 2065, 854 (1973) (Powell, concurring). 39 different available. Described detail Harlan's separate Mackey, contemplates, rough outline, pending ordinarily considered stood became final.2 marshaled compellingly reasoning supporting view, 675-698, me repeat arguments pointless. note closer principled, evenhanded traditional At attuned historical limitations habeas corpus, Stone Powell, 428 465, 96 3037, 49 1067 (1976), importance finality rational system Blackledge Allison, 63, 83, 1621, 1634, 136 40 us review. agree entitled defined proximate cause death. "And ." Cf. 11, 14-15. There similar defendant's satisfy is, heat passion sudden provocation. challenged along self-defense; do reach court, convenience, "properly presented" 575-587 forbid requiring raise want entirely four things: appeared believed necessary shoot save himself death great bodily harm. arm contends thing this, were sufficient create belief mind ordinary firmness, you, jury, determine reasonableness time. making determination existed size, age strength compared fierceness assault, any, possession. And third aggressor. voluntarily provocation entered fight aggressor, thereafter attempted abandon notice doing so. One enters uses towards opponent abusive language calculated intended bring fight. fourth use excessive force, reasonably time." 11-12. (Emphasis added.) 1975. November 21, make presented supports lower court. Massachusetts Mutual insurance company Ludwig, 426 479, 2159, 48 784 (1976). argue, alternative below, constitutionally permissible affirmative defense need negative doubt. Therefore, address "We parties. mentioned properly us." Mazer Stein, 347 201, 206 5, 74 460, 464, 98 630 (1954) (citations omitted). generally R. Stern E. Gressman, Practice, § 6.37 (4th ed. 1969) cited. results few altered change juries understand confusing like past. distinguishable performed judge. We assume fail receiving 369-370, 1070, (1970) Moreover, utilize sort asserts. well settled asserts, unlikely lawyers appropriate objections incorporating presumptions. none here. passed anyway. wish, able insulate enforcing normal valid failure object waiver Fed.Rule Crim.Proc. 30. As noted Williams, think persuasive analysis decide arising corpus collateral-review addition, noted, typical nonretroactivity often role legislature tribunal. 677-681, 1172-1174. exceptions occasionally 692-695, 1179-1181. makes persuasive, another day appropriate. 1161

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