Court Opinion

ID: 9679309
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 06:48:38.769277+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:17:12.513248
License: Public Domain

MORGAN, Justice
(concurring in part, dissenting in part).
I dissent from the holding that the trial court erred in giving jury instruction number 38. In my opinion, the trial court correctly stated the law with respect to voluntary intoxication in cases of homicide committed with a design to effect death. SDCL 22-16-6 clearly states that the act is not the less murder because the perpetrator was in a state of voluntary intoxication at the time. This issue has never been before this court and the cases cited in support of giving the voluntary intoxication instruction are inapposite. State v. Kills Small, 269 N.W.2d 771 (S.D.1978), involved the offense of burglary and State v. Plenty Horse, 85 S.D. 401, 184 N.W.2d 654 (1971), involved forgery.
It is settled law in most jurisdictions that “[t]he Legislature ... except as limited by the state and federal constitutions and federal law, has unquestionable power to define what acts shall constitute criminal offenses and what penalties shall be imposed on offenders.” State v. Moore, 286 N.W.2d 274, 278 (N.D.1979).
The South Dakota Legislature, in enacting Chapter 22-16, defining homicide, created an exception to SDCL 22-5-5. SDCL ch. 22-16 actually makes three specific provisions with respect to premeditated design: (1) SDCL 22-16-5 says the design may be formed instantly before committing the act; (2) SDCL 22-16-6 states that a state of anger is not a defense; and (3) SDCL 22-16-6 also states that voluntary intoxication is not a defense. It is noteworthy that SDCL 22-16-6 refers only to homicide with design to effect death inasmuch as it is the only homicide that is a specific intent crime. Felony murder, murder in the second degree, and the manslaughter offenses are all general intent crimes. As the majority opinion properly points out, SDCL 22-5-5 is applicable only to specific intent crimes. We are thus faced with a case of statutory construction in which a general statute, SDCL 22-5-5, appears clearly to be in conflict with a specific statute, SDCL 22-16-6. Under our previous holdings, a specific statute prevails.
We read statutes to give effect to all provisions, ... and multiple provisions covering the same subject are construed to give effect to each statute.... Where there is a specific enactment, that provision prevails over the terms of the general enactment, (citations omitted)
Hartpence v. Youth Forestry Camp, 325 N.W.2d 292, 295 (S.D.1982).
Putting aside my basic disagreement with the majority opinion on the holding as I have noted above, I can certainly agree with the disposition as harmless error as Circuit Judge Miller has pointed out in his concurrence in part and dissent in part. Under the facts in this case, it would be unlikely that a jury would arrive at any different verdict. Therefore, I agree with the disposition of the first issue on jury instruction number 38. Furthermore, I concur in the balance of the opinion on the remaining issues.