Court Opinion

ID: 9796610
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 04:00:50.962608+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:50:40.184536
License: Public Domain

Justice KIDWELL,
dissenting.
I do not believe it was the intent of the legislature to criminalize speech, even when it is vulgar or distasteful, unless the words pose imminent danger or cause potential violence. The words and facts of this ease do not rise to the standards required to set aside freedom of speech guaranteed by the Idaho and U.S. Constitutions. Therefore, I respectfully dissent.
Fighting words are those that “by their very utterance inflict injury or tend to incite an immediate breach of the peace.” Chaplinsky v. New Hampshire, 315 U.S. 568, 572, 62 S.Ct. 766, 769, 86 L.Ed. 1031, 1035 (1942). They have a “direct tendency to cause acts of violence by the persons to whom, individually, the remark is addressed.” Id. at 573, 62 S.Ct. at 770, 86 L.Ed. at 1036 (emphasis added). While I obviously do not condone such vulgar language, I cannot believe that in this age the average teenager would react with physical violence to Hammersley’s ill-considered insult. “[W]e cannot ignore this particular epithet’s common appearance in both the written and spoken language of our contemporary society, and the resultant negation of its inflammatory nature.” Cavazos v. State, 455 N.E.2d 618, 620 (Ind.Ct.App.1983). The epithet used by Hammersley is not acceptable in polite society; nevertheless, it is an epithet “which reasonable persons would agree would not provoke ordinary citizens to violent action.” Id.
Many state courts that have considered the issue have concluded that use of an obscenity such as the “f-word” as a direct personal insult does not, by itself, constitute fighting words. Although use of the word may incite anger, it is not by itself calculated to provoke a physical retaliation and breach *823of the peace. Rather, use of extreme profanity constitutes fighting words only when an additional element in the situation (such as physical proximity, screaming, prolonged repetition of the language, or aggressive gestures) suggests that violence is imminent.
An interesting and colorful array of cases emphasizes that words alone are not a proper basis for a criminal charge. Compare State v. Miller, 110 Ohio App.3d 159, 673 N.E.2d 934, 935, 937 (1996) (reversing disorderly conduct conviction for man who made statements to neighbor while separated by fence and at least thirty feet); In re Welfare of S.L.J., 263 N.W.2d 412, 415, 419-20 (Minn.1978) (reversing disorderly conduct conviction for teenage girl who made comments to police from fifteen feet away); R.I.T. v. State, 675 So.2d 97, 98 (Ala.Crim.App.1995) (reversing disorderly conduct conviction for statement juvenile made to sheriff as he walked away from scene), with State v. James M., 111 N.M. 473, 806 P.2d 1063, 1065-66 (App.1990) (upholding disorderly conduct conviction when juvenile was yelling at a man during a loud argument, standing close to the man, violently flailing and pointing, and police officer reasonably thought fight would ensue); State v. Wood, 112 Ohio App.3d 621, 679 N.E.2d 735, 737, 740-41 (1996) (upholding disorderly conduct conviction for man who approached police officers and used loud abusive language against them for several minutes); City of Billings v. Batten, 218 Mont. 64, 705 P.2d 1120, 1124-25 (1985) (upholding disorderly conduct conviction of man yelling for several minutes accompanied by taunts of “fight me, hit me”).
In this case, according to Goodwin’s testimony, Hammersley yelled one obscenity at her, and did that only after Cassandra got into the ear. Nothing in the record showed any violence was imminent in the situation. Hammersley did not physically confront Goodwin, did not yell at her repeatedly, did not make any aggressive gestures, and did not in any other way provoke a physical retaliation.
The record shows that Goodwin considered the insult for over a month before filing charges against Hammersley. I would submit that such behavior shows that the vulgar term used by Hammersley would not have a direct tendency to cause acts of violence when addressed to the average teenager. Therefore, I believe it is apparent that Hammersley’s language does not constitute fighting words and is constitutionally protected.