Court Opinion

ID: 2653606
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-02-18 20:37:21.120405+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:33:33.504205
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
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                                                                                           C/Jo
STATE OF WASHINGTON,
                                                          No. 69766-8-1              ^     5^
                       Respondent,
                                                          DIVISION ONE               ~     3!>3!
                  v.
                                                          PUBLISHED IN PART          3     5>°
RYAN PATRICK MOORE,                                       OPINION                    =     g«

                       Appellant.                         FILED: February 18, 2014 *° 2^

        Appelwick, J. — The "to convict" instruction informed the jury that, if it found

each element proved beyond a reasonable doubt, it had the duty to convict. This

instruction does not violate a defendant's constitutional right to jury trial. It neither

misstates the law nor invades the province of the jury. We affirm.

                                             DISCUSSION

        At Ryan Moore's trial,1 the to convict instruction informed the jury that:
        If you find from the evidence that each of these elements has been proved
        beyond a reasonable doubt, then it will be your duty to return a verdict of
        guilty.

              On the other hand, if, after weighing all of the evidence, you have a
        reasonable doubt as to any one of these elements, then itwill be your duty
        to return a verdict of not guilty.

(Emphasis added.) Moore argues that the instruction violated his constitutional right to

a jury trial.

        We thought that this issue was resolved.2 Each division of this court has
addressed similar challenges to the same instruction Moore contests here. And, in

        1 Moore was convicted of bail jumping. The facts are not significant to this issue
and are set out in the unpublished section of this opinion.
        2 In fact, this case is only one of many recent appeals making this challenge to
the same jury instruction.
No. 69766-8/2

each case, the court upheld the instruction. See State v. Meqqyesy, 90 Wash. App. 693,

706, 958 P.2d 319 (1998)3 (Division One); State v. Brown. 130 Wash. App. 767, 771, 124
P.3d 663 (2005) (Division Two); State v. Wilson, 176 Wash. App. 147, 151, 307 P.3d 823

(2013) (Division Three), review denied        Wn.2d       , 316 P.3d 495 (2014).

       In Meqqyesy. the appellants argued that a proper instruction informing the jury

that it may convict if the State proved all elements of the crime. 90 Wash. App. at 697.

We rejected their argument, holding that the trial court is not required to instruct the jury

that it may acquit.4 jd. at 700. Though much of our analysis focused on the impropriety
of such an instruction, we explicitly approved the "duty to convict" language and found

that it did not misstate the law or invade the province of the jury. id. at 700-01. We held

that neither the federal nor the state constitution prohibits instructing the jury on its duty

to convict. jUat698.

       Brown and Wilson subsequently agreed with Meqqvesv, despite the appellants'

attempts to distinguish their challenges. Brown argued that he raised a different issue,
because he directly challenged the "duty" language, rather than ask the court to instruct

the jury that it "may" convict. 130 Wash. App. at 770-71. The Brown court did not find this
distinction meaningful: "The Meqqvesv court, although addressing a slightly different
argument, held that instructing the jury it had a 'duty' to convict if it found the elements

       3 abrogated on other grounds by State v. Recuenco, 154 Wash. 2d 156, 110 P.3d
188 (2005). reversed by Washington v. Recuenco, 548 U.S. 212, 126 S. Ct. 2546, 165
L. Ed. 2d 466 (2006)
       4 This instruction is also referred to as a jury nullification instruction.        See
Meqgyesv, 90 Wash. App. at 699-700. Jury nullification "occurs when the defendant's
guilt is clear beyond a reasonable doubt, but the jury, based on its own sense of justice
or fairness, decides to acquit." Andrew D. Leipold, Rethinking Jury Nullification, 82 Va.
L Rev. 253(1996).
No. 69766-8/3

were proven beyond a reasonable doubt did not misstate the law." jd. at 771. Wilson

argued that, under Washington law, juries never have a duty to convict and that the

instruction violated the Washington Constitution. 176 Wash. App. at 150. The court

declined to reconsider the issue, noting that the appellant "raises the same challenge as

in Brown and uses the same constitutional arguments set forth in Meqqvesv." ]g\ at

151. On January 7, our Supreme Court denied review in Wilson.

       Moore does not contest Meqqvesv's holding that an instruction on the jury's

power to acquitwould be improper. Instead, he argues—much like Brown and Wilson—

that he raises a distinct issue, because he directly challenges the "duty to convict"

language. Moore maintains that the law never requires the jury to find a defendant
guilty. Accordingly, he contends that the instruction misstated the law and misled the
jury about its power to acquit against the evidence.

       By statute, every juror must swear or affirm to uphold and follow the law:

       When the jury has been selected, an oath or affirmation shall be
       administered to the jurors [that they] will well, and truly try, the matter in
       issue between the plaintiff and defendant, and a true verdict give,
       according to the law and evidence as given them on the trial.
RCW 4.44.260.5 Far from misleading the jury, the challenged instruction tracks the

juror's oath. The jury's duty to uphold the law has existed in Washington since the state
was a territory. See Hartioan v. Territory, 1 Wash. Terr. 447, 451 (1874). In Hartigan,

the court approved the juror's oath, stating that it is the jury's duty to accept the law "as

given them by the court." JU at 449, 451. The court recognized that, if the jury returned

      5 "The jury shall be sworn or affirmed well and truly to try the issue between the
Sate and the defendant, according to the evidence and instructions by the court." CrR
6.6.
No. 69766-8/4

a verdict contrary to law, there was no remedy, id. at 449. However, it concluded that a

juror is "just as much bound by the laws of this territory as any other citizen.         He

acguires no right to disregard that law simply because he has taken an oath as juryman

to aid in its administration." ]&. at 451 (emphasis added).

       In Leonard v. Territory, 2 Wash. Terr. 381, 399, 7 P. 872 (1885), the territorial

court also considered a challenge to a to convict instruction that, in part, told the jury it

"may" return a guilty verdict if the prosecution proved its case, but "must" acquit in the

absence of such proof. However, this particular language was not the subject of the

appellant's challenge and the court did not analyze or endorse this language. See id. at

399-401. The language demonstrates that, in prestatehood, the jury may have been

instructed without the duty to convict. See id. at 399. But, this does not mean that the

jury lacks a duty to uphold the law. The same opinion affirmed the decision in Hartigan

that the jurors have a duty to follow the law as given them in the instructions. \± at 395.

In light of that duty, the language that the jury "may" convict merely parallels its true

converse: that the jury may not convict without every element proved beyond a

reasonable doubt. This does not erase the jury's duty to follow the law.

       The jury has the ability to acquit against the evidence. But, it does not have the

right to do so. See Meggyesy, 90 Wash. App. at 700. The court is not obligated to

instruct the jury about that ability,    id.   And, the court's lack of remedy against

nullification is not because the jury lacks a duty to uphold the law. See Hartigan, 1

Wash. Terr, at 451. The court does not inquire into the jury's verdict out of respect for

our judicial system. See State v. Balisok, 123 Wash. 2d 114, 117-18, 866 P.2d 631 (1994)
No. 69766-8/5

(noting that the policy behind not inquiring is to promote stable and certain verdicts and

allow the jury to freely discuss the evidence). This deference does not relieve the jury

of its duty to obey the law as given to it and apply that law to the facts before it.

       Here, the challenged instruction leaves for the jurors the role of evaluating the

facts and applying the law as given to them, consistent with their oath.            Thus, the

instruction permits the jury to draw the ultimate conclusion of guilt or innocence, as the

jury is required to do. See United States v. Gaudin. 515 U.S. 506, 514, 115 S. Ct. 2310,

132 L Ed. 2d 444 (1995).

       This issue was settled by Meggyesy, and affirmed in Brown and Wilson. We

reaffirm and uphold the to convict instruction given here: "If you find from the evidence

that each of these elements has been proved beyond a reasonable doubt, then it will be

your duty to return a verdict of guilty." (Emphasis added.)

       This is a correct statement of the law. Jurors have a duty to apply the law given

to them. This instruction does not invade the province of the jury nor otherwise violate a

defendant's right to a jury trial. The trial court does not err in giving the instruction when

requested.

       The remainder of this opinion has no precedential value. Therefore, it will be

filed for public record in accordance with the rules governing unpublished opinions.

                                            FACTS

       Moore was charged with possession of a stolen vehicle.             At his arraignment,

Moore pleaded not guilty. Moore subsequently failed to appear at a pretrial hearing,
No. 69766-8/6

because he was at his attorney's office for an unrelated matter. As a result, the State

charged Moore with bail jumping.

       Ultimately, the State dismissed the charge for possession of a stolen vehicle, but

continued to pursue the bail jumping case.      Before trial, the State moved to exclude

evidence about why Moore's underlying charge was dismissed. The prosecutor argued

that the evidence was irrelevant to the bail jumping charge and thus would go to only

jury nullification. Moore's counsel agreed that he would not comment on the underlying

charge.

       During direct examination, Moore's counsel asked him why he chose to go to

trial, when bail jumping is a simple case for the State to prove. Moore answered that he

agreed to go to trial because he did not "think it's right to go to court [or] have a court

date for something that I know I'm not guilty of." The prosecutor objected to this

testimony, and the court sustained the objection.

       The jury found Moore guilty as charged. Moore appeals.

                                      DISCUSSION

  I.   Evidence of Underlying Charge

       Moore argues that the trial court improperly prevented him from presenting

evidence about the dismissal of his underlying charge. He also maintains that the court

misled Moore about his ability to present his evidence to the jury.

       At a pretrial motion hearing, Moore protested that his bail jumping charge should

be dismissed after the underlying charges were dropped. The court responded that,

"[b]ecause you have a due process right to a jury trial, you'll have an opportunity to
No. 69766-8/7

present your defense. . . . Your constitutional rights are all preserved. And the concerns

that you have sounds like are concerns you are going to present to a jury next week."

The State later filed a motion in limine seeking to exclude evidence of Moore's

underlying charge, which the court granted on the basis of relevance.

      A criminal defendant has the constitutional right to present evidence in his or her

defense. U.S. Const, amend VI; Wash. Const, art. I, § 22; State v. Weaville. 162 Wn.

App. 801, 818, 256 P.3d 426 (2011). However, only relevant evidence is admissible.

ER 402.    To be relevant, evidence must have a tendency to prove or disprove the

existence of a fact that is material to the outcome of the case.   ER 401. There is no

right to have irrelevant evidence admitted in one's defense.       State v. Darden, 145
Wash. 2d 612, 624, 41 P.3d 1189 (2002).

       Moore was charged with bail jumping under RCW 9A.76.170(1). The elements

of bail jumping are: (1) that the defendant was held for, charged with, or convicted of a

certain crime; (2) that the defendant had knowledge of the requirement to appear at a

subsequent court date; and (3) that the defendant failed to appear. State v. Downing,

122 Wash. App. 185, 192, 93 P.3d 900 (2004).

      The evidence that Moore wished to present does not affect the jury's

consideration of the elements of bail jumping. Nor did it pertain to a valid defense. The

court acknowledged this, stating that the State's decision not to pursue the underlying

charges "doesn't have a bearing on whether or not [Moore] still had an obligation to

appear." The existence of Moore's underlying charge is relevant to prove the first

element of bail jumping, but the fact that the charge was dropped—and the
No. 69766-8/8

circumstances thereof—has no bearing on the outcome of the case. The trial court

properly excluded the evidence of the underlying charge's dismissal.

       Furthermore, the court did not misinform Moore during the motion hearing. The

court properly told him that he had a right to present a defense and merely said that it

"sounds like" Moore will present evidence of his underlying charge at trial.

 II.   Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

       Moore argues that he was denied effective assistance of counsel. This is so, he

contends, because his attorney failed to object to the State's motion in limine seeking to

exclude evidence of his underlying charge's dismissal.

       To prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel based on a failure to

object, the defendant must show: (1) the absence of a legitimate strategic or tactical

reason for not objecting; (2) that the trial court would have sustained the objection if

made; and (3) the result of the trial would have differed if the evidence had not been

admitted. State v. Saunders, 91 Wash. App. 575, 578, 958 P.2d 364 (1998).

       When the prosecutor made her motion in limine, she noted that the evidence was

irrelevant and that it was inappropriate to elicit testimony that would go to only jury

nullification. Moore's counsel declined to object, stating, "I have no intention of trying to

cause a mistrial, so I will not be commenting on the underlying charge." This was a

tactical decision not to fight for evidence that could potentially result in an error at trial,

especially where the evidence is irrelevant Moreover, counsel is not ineffective for

refusing to advocate for a position that is unsupported by the law. Indeed, the refusal to

do so is consistent with a lawyer's ethical obligations. See RPC 3.1.

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No. 69766-8/9

        Furthermore, the fact that the evidence was irrelevant indicates that the trial court

would not have sustained the objection had counsel made one. The court's recognition

that the evidence had no bearing on the bail jumping charges suggests this as well.

Moore was not deprived his right to effective assistance of counsel.

 III.   Prosecutorial Vindictiveness

        Moore contends that the prosecutor improperly charged him with bail jumping

after realizing that there was insufficient evidence for the underlying crime of possession

of a stolen vehicle. Moore argues that this constituted prosecutorial vindictiveness.

        Prosecutorial vindictiveness is the intentional filing of a more serious crime in

retaliation for a defendant's lawful exercise of a procedural right. State v. Lee, 69 Wn.

App. 31, 35, 847 P.2d 25 (1993). Admittedly, bail jumping with a class B or C felony is a

more serious crime than possession of a stolen vehicle. See RCW 9.94A.515. But, the

prosecution did not file the bail jumping charge as a result of Moore's lawful exercise of

a procedural right. Rather, the prosecution filed the bail jumping charge after Moore

failed to appear at his hearing. This did not constitute prosecutorial vindictiveness.

IV.     Sentencing

        Moore argues that he was unfairly sentenced. The general rule in Washington is

that a trial court must impose a sentence within the standard range unless it finds

substantial and compelling reasons to justify a departure. State v. Smith, 82 Wash. App.
153, 160-61, 916 P.2d 960 (1996). Moore was convicted of bail jumping under RCW

9A.76.170 with a class C felony. His offender score is nine. The standard sentencing

range under these circumstances is 51-68 months. RCW 9.94A.510; RCW 9.94A.515.
No. 69766-8/10

       At sentencing, Moore requested an exceptional sentence downward, arguing that

it was unjust to impose a five year sentence for missing a court date.       The court

considered Moore's request for an exceptionally low sentence, but did not find a

sufficient basis to impose it. Instead, it imposed a sentence of 51 months, the lowest

sentence in the standard range.

       A sentence within the standard range shall not be appealed. RCW 9.94A.585(1).

There are exceptions to this rule. For example, a defendant whose sentence is within

the standard range may appeal upon showing that the sentencing court failed to follow

some specific procedure required by the Sentencing Reform Act of 1981, ch. 9.94A

RCW.    State v. Mail, 121 Wash. 2d 707, 712, 854 P.2d 1042 (1993).       Alternatively, a

defendant may make a constitutional challenge to a standard range sentence,         id.

Moore makes neither argument here. Moore may not appeal his sentence.

 V.    Absence From Previous Hearing

       Moore's final statement of additional grounds addresses his absence from a

hearing on June 22, 2012.     The essence of Moore's argument seems to be that,

because he was not punished for that absence, he should not have been punished for

the absence that ultimately led to his conviction. The record does not contain evidence

pertaining to the June 22 hearing. Because his argument is not supported by evidence

in the record, we cannot review it. State v. Alvarado, 164 Wash. 2d 556, 569, 192 P.3d
345 (2008); see also RAP 10.10(c).

                                              10
No. 69766-8/11

      The to convict instruction at Moore's trial was proper.    Moore does not

demonstrate evidentiary error, ineffective assistance of counsel, or prosecutorial

vindictiveness, and he may not appeal his sentence. We affirm.

WE CONCUR:

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