Court Opinion

ID: 9578057
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 21:41:04.750102+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:22:30.542977
License: Public Domain

THOMAS, Justice,
specially concurring, with whom Rose, Chief Justice, joins.
Section 6-4-307, W.S.1977, stands as an anomaly in these times. This appellant has premised a part of his argument on that statute, which is quoted in footnote 3 of the majority opinion. Currently other forms of family abuse are of paramount concern to many in our society. Indeed, while this case has been under advisement in this court there have been introduced and acted upon in the Forty-sixth Legislature of the State of Wyoming House Bill 49, House Bill 504, and Senate File 192. These legislative acts relate respectively to adult protection services which are available in a family context; services to prevent or deter family violence; and the creation in the Department of Health and Social Services of a Division of Family Violence and Sexual Assault. If it is wrong to abuse one’s spouse, then excusing abuse by rape cannot be justified. It is clear that the State can prosecute a husband for homicide if he should kill his wife for refusing intercourse, but our statute excuses him if she capitulates under a threat of death. Such a statutory paradox merits further attention. The presumption of consent as a defense of inhumane conduct by a husband leading to sexual intercourse is an inhumane rule which needs to be extirpated from the law.