Court Opinion

ID: 9938769
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-02-09 19:03:55.247362+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:37:26.597316
License: Public Domain

I respectfully dissent from the majority's holding that an unintentional killing is not a crime involving moral turpitude. "Moral turpitude has been defined as ' "an act of baseness, vileness, or depravity in the private and social duties which a man owes to his fellowmen or to society in general." ' "Meriwether v. Crown Investment Corporation, 289 Ala. 504, 512,268 So.2d 780 (1972), quoting Lee v. Wisconsin State Board ofDental Examiners, 29 Wis.2d 330, 139 N.W.2d 61 (1966). Rather than declaring that an unintentional killing is not a crime involving moral turpitude, I would hold that the specific conduct which resulted in the unintentional killing must be examined to determine whether the act involves moral turpitude. I can envision certain unintentional killings that would be considered mala in se. Therefore, I must dissent.