Court Opinion

ID: 9543946
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 16:50:45.972923+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:11:31.768673
License: Public Domain

Abrams, J.
(concurring). The present case illustrates the difficulties which arise when the prosecution bears the burden of proving criminal responsibility beyond a reasonable doubt. In 1976, when we decided Kostka, only twenty-three States required the defendant to prove lack of criminal responsibility. Commonwealth v. Kostka, 370 Mass. 516, 527 (1976). Currently, thirty-six jurisdictions (including the Federal government and the District of Columbia) place on the defendant the burden of proving lack of criminal responsibility.1 Were I to reconsider our decision in Kostka, supra, I *602would join the increasing majority of States which place the burden of proving lack of criminal responsibility on the defendant. In any case in which the issue of criminal responsibility was raised, there would be a case for the jury on that issue,2 but there would be no need for an instruction on the presumption of criminal responsibility.3

Riley v. State, 830 S.W.2d 584 (Tex. Crim. App. 1992); Bass v. State, 585 So.2d 225 (Ala. Crim. App. 1991); State v. Zmich, 160 Ariz. 108 (1989); State v. Hankins, 232 Neb. 608 (1989); State v. Rough Surface, 440 N.W.2d 746 (S.D. 1989); Hoey v. State, 311 Md. 473 (1988); People v. Kohl, 72 N.Y.2d 191 (1988); Commonwealth v. Sohmer, 519 Pa. 200 (1988); State v. James, 393 N.W.2d 465 (Iowa 1986), appeal dismissed, 481 U.S. 1009 (1987); People v. Moore, 147 Ill. App. 3d 881 (1986); Brooks v. State, 706 P.2d 664 (Wyo. 1985); State v. Messier, 145 Vt. 622 (1985); Price v. State, 412 N.E.2d 783 (Ind. 1980); State v. Linder, 304 N.W.2d 902 (Minn. 1981); State v. Howze, 66 Ohio App. 2d 41 (1979); Cooper v. United States, 368 A.2d 554 (D.C. 1977); McDonald v. Commonwealth, 554 S.W.2d 84 (Ky. 1977); State v. Caryl, 168 Mont. 414 *602(1975); State v. DiPaglia, 64 N.J. 288 (1974); State v. Durgin, 311 A.2d 266 (Me. 1973); In re Franklin, 7 Cal. 3d 126 (1972); Riggins v. State, 226 Ga. 381 (1970); State v. Hinson, 253 S.C. 607 (1970); Ray v. State, 262 A.2d 643 (Del. 1970); State v. Holmes, 439 S.W.2d 518 (Mo. 1969); State v. Atkinson, 275 N.C. 288 (1969); State v. Marks, 252 La. 277 (1968), vacated as to death penalty, 408 U.S. 933 (1972); Gallegos v. State, 84 Nev. 608 (1968); State v. Haggblom, 249 Or. 676 (1968); State v. Page, 104 R.I. 323 (1968), overruled on other grounds sub nom. State v. Johnson, 119 R.I. 749 (1978); Taylor v. Commonwealth, 208 Va. 316 (1967); State v. Piche, 71 Wash. 2d. 583 (1967), cert. denied, 390 U.S. 912 (1968); Stewart v. State, 233 Ark. 458, cert. denied, 368 U.S. 935 (1961); Alaska Stat. § 12.47.01 (1990); N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 628:2 (1986 & Supp. 1992); 18 U.S.C. § 17 (1992).

In South Carolina, the defendant bears the burden of proving lack of criminal responsibility. However, South Carolina explicitly requires the government to offer rebuttal evidence once the defendant offers evidence of lack of criminal responsibility. Of the States where the defendant bears the burden of proving lack of criminal responsibility, South Carolina is the only State with this requirement. See State v. Milian-Hernandez, 287 S.C. 183 (1985). In two States the issue whether the government must offer evidence in rebuttal is unclear. See Bass v. State, 585 So. 2d 225, 233 (Ala. Crim. App. 1991); State v. Sommerville, 111 Wash. 2d 524, 530 (1988).

The States which place the burden of proof of criminal responsibility on the defendant are divided on whether there should be an instruction on the presumption of criminal responsibility. I would follow those jurisdictions which do not require an instruction on the presumption of criminal responsibility.