Court Opinion

ID: 9543943
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 16:50:45.370774+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:11:32.964160
License: Public Domain

COATS, Judge,
dissenting.
In Folger v. State, 648 P.2d 111 (Alaska App.1982), we concluded that the trial judge erred in failing to give an instruction on self-defense. In that case, we stated:
From his opening statement it appears that Folger’s primary defense was self-defense. Although his defense was extremely weak, -he did present evidence from which a reasonable juror could conclude that self-defense existed. It is obvious why a trial judge would be less than impressed with Folger’s explanation for his use of a dangerous weapon. However, Folger was entitled to trial by jury and a jury should have been instructed on his self-defense claim.
Id. at 113-14 (footnote omitted). In a footnote we went on to say:
We think a strong argument can be made that a trial judge should err on the side of giving instructions on self-defense so as to avoid a needless appellate issue in cases in which a weak case for self-defense is presented. We also think in a case such as this where self-defense is presented as a possible defense, there is a danger that the jury may consider its own understanding of what self-defense is in the absence of an instruction from the court. It seems preferable to have the jury correctly instructed.
Id. at 113-14 n. 3. In reaching this decision in Folger, we relied on decisions of the Alaska Supreme Court which we concluded required the trial judge to instruct on self-defense even where the evidence supporting the defendant’s self-defense claim was weak or implausible. Houston v. State, 602 P.2d 784, 785 (Alaska 1979); Toomey v. State, 581 P.2d 1124, 1126 n. 6 (Alaska 1978). We have consistently adhered to this precedent. See, e.g., Willett v. State, 836 P.2d 955, 958 (Alaska App.1992); Carson v. State, 736 P.2d 356, 359 (Alaska App.1987). I see our decision in this case as a departure from that precedent and consequently dissent.
Ha’s primary defense was self-defense. I agree that Ha’s defense suffered severe problems because of the time that elapsed between Buu’s assault and the moment when Ha shot Buu. There is little evidence that Ha had a need to defend himself from Buu at the time he shot Buu.
However, despite the problems with his defense, Ha was entitled to a jury trial, and it seems to me that it was Ha’s right to have the jury decide his claim of self-defense based on proper instructions. Since Judge Souter did not instruct the jury on self-defense, this probably had the effect of taking Ha’s defense from the jury. The jury either did not decide the issue of self-defense, or had to decide whether self-defense existed based upon their own understanding of the issue. Either result seems to me to be improper, and undermines Ha’s right to a jury trial. I therefore conclude that Judge Souter erred in failing to instruct the jury on self-defense and that his action tended to deprive Ha of his right to a jury trial. I would reverse Ha’s conviction.