Court Opinion

ID: 9661321
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 22:35:23.407791+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:52:41.464094
License: Public Domain

*29CONNOR T. HANSEN, J.
(eonewrmg). I reluctantly concur in the result reached by the majority. I do not agree, however, with the reasoning employed by the majority to reach that result. The plain and clear language of the first-degree murder statute requires that a person convicted of the crime “. . . shall be sentenced to life imprisonment.” The statute does not say “. . . shall be imprisoned . . .” nor “. . . shall be punished by imprisonment for life.” Were the first-degree murder statute voiced in either of the latter two ways, this court’s decision in State v. Duffy, 54 Wis.2d 61, 194 N.W.2d 624 (1972), would control and imprisonment would be mandatory; probation inapplicable.
*30The majority opinion attempts to distinguish Duffy, supra, on the grounds of a difference in the “. . . shall be imprisoned . . .” and “. . . shall be sentenced . . .” language. That is indeed a distinguishing factor which renders Duffy, supra, inapplicable in this case. The majority, however, in its legislative-history analysis of the probation statute and the relation to earlier criminal statutes, initially determined that “. . . shall/may be imprisoned . . .” language in a criminal statute was irrelevant to a determination of whether a probation disposition was possible. I disagree. An interpretation of legislative intent relating to probation possibilities in the pre-1955 criminal code era when the statutory scheme relating to probation and mandatory sentencing was in a confusing state, has little or no bearing on the legislative intent today. The statutory confusion and inconsistencies noted by the majority, which occurred in the pre-1955 era are not present in today’s statutory scheme. Probation, under the general provisions of sec. 973.09, Stats., is available upon the conviction of any crime except where the legislature has specifically prohibited it by use of language such as “. . . shall be imprisoned. . .” as was the case in sec. 343.44, as indicated in Duffy, supra.
The legislature clearly has not voiced that specific prohibition in the first-degree murder statute. In light of the language of the predecessor statutes to sec. 940.01, Stats., that a person convicted of first-degree murder “. . . shall be punished by imprisonment. . .”, it is difficult to conceive that the legislature could now have consciously intended that a person so convicted be either imprisoned for life or placed on probation. It is equally difficult to conceive that the legislature would have consciously intended that mandatory imprisonment be required for crimes such as that involved in sec. 343.44, while none was required for the infinitely more serious crime of first-degree murder.
*31We do not, however, interpret legislative enactments in light of what we believe the legislature could have, or should have, or probably did intend. We are bound by the clear language of the statute. This is especially true where, as here, we deal with the penalty provision of a penal statute. The statute clearly states that the defendant “. . . shall be sentenced to life imprisonment . . .” The defendant was so sentenced. On that basis alone the orders must be affirmed. The legislature enacted the statute, not the courts. If the statute does not say what the legislature intended, then it is the right of the legislature to change it.
I note further that the record here indicates that the trial judge failed to properly dispose of the arson charge. After a finding of guilt on that charge, sentence was permanently stayed. Such a disposition is not within the options given to a trial judge under sec. 972.13, Stats.
I would affirm the orders pertaining to the first-degree murder charge and remand for a proper disposition of the arson charge.
I am authorized to state that Mr. Chief Justice BEIL-FUSS joins in this concurring opinion.