Court Opinion

ID: 9577099
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 21:31:41.139567+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:19:58.550884
License: Public Domain

MB. JUSTICE FBEEBOUBN:
(dissenting).
I see nothing in the majority opinion that constitutes a good-reason why this court should ignore the plain meaning of the words of B. C. M. 1947, sec. 10-603, which are: ‘ ‘ The juvenile court shall have exclusive original jurisdiction in proceedings: * * * (b) concerning any person under twenty-one (21) years of age charged with having violated any law of the state, other than those laws relating to the commission of or attempt to commit the criminal offenses mentioned in subdivision (2) (a) of section 10-602 * * Y”
Subdivision (2) (b) of section 10-602 has no application to rape, but directs “a child over the age of sixteen (16) years who commits or attempts to commit murder, manslaughter, assault in the first degree, robbery, first or second degree burglary while having in his possession a deadly weapon, and carrying a deadly weapon or weapons with intent to assault * * * shall be prosecuted in the criminal courts * * Y”
All of the crimes mentioned in said subdivision (2) (b) are crimes which show a criminal mind in the “child over the age of sixteen (16) years”, who commits them. Undoubtedly the reason why the lawmakers did not include rape or attempted *315rape when committed by “a child over the age of sixteen” in subdivision (2) (b) is because such crime springs, not from a criminal mind, but from the natural makeup of the human being especially the male. The sex urge in man is not of his making but was instilled by the Creator of All Things. Because of this natural inclination few men have lived their lives without at some time therein, especially in the teen years, having been guilty of rape, attempted rape or other sex offense as the law views it.
Neither do I see any reason to delve into the grammar to determine the meaning of the words: “The juvenile court shall have exclusive original jurisdiction in proceedings: * * * (b) concerning any person under twenty-one (21) years of age charged with having violated any law of the state, ’ ’ subdivision (2) (a) excepted. These words speak for themselves and need no interpretation.
Nor am I impressed by the majority opinion which, in order to lend apparent reasonableness to the conclusion reached, gives R. C. M. 1947, sec. 10-603, subd. (b) a meaning not justified. It is made to appear in the opinion that subdivision (b) means: The juvenile court shall have exclusive jurisdiction in proceedings concerning any person under twenty-one years of age charged with having violated any law of the state, prior to having become eighteen years of age. What such statute and subdivision says is: “The juvenile court shall have exclusive original jurisdiction in proceedings: * * * concerning * * * any person charged with having violated any ordinance of any city or town, prior to having become eighteen years of age * * *.”
The fact that R. C. M. 1947, sec. 10-602, defines an “adult” as a “person eighteen years of age or older” does not add any strength to the majority opinion for section 10-603 says the juvenile court shall have ‘ ‘ exclusive original jurisdiction in proceedings” concerning not a child or an adult, but concerning “any person under twenty-one (21) years of age charged with having violated any law of the state * * *” with specific exceptions.
*316The law as pertains to persons under 21 years of age is contradictory to say the least. Under section 10-602 a person over 18 years of age is an adult; yet a person under 21 years of age is deemed an infant when he sues or is sued in our courts, and can only come into court with a guardian. Such a person is denied the right to vote, while on the other hand he is handed a gun and told to protect us by fighting an enemy on foreign shores, while we, who sit in judgment of him, rest at home in the safety he provides, fie may not have a glass of beer until he is 21; and until he is 21, while at home, his parent can collect his wages if he is working. He may rescind his contracts, yet marry and bear all responsibilities thereof.
Under the majority opinion extreme injustice may result. Should two boys, one 17 years and 364 days old (under 18) and one 17 years and 367 days old (over 18) commit rape, the difference of three days in their ages sends one to the state school until he is 21 years of age, unless sooner paroled, while the other boy, older by three days, may be sent to the state penitentiary for a term of up to 99 years and be branded as an ex-convict for the remainder of his life.
I believe the w-rit should issue which would result in all of the boys, involved in the offense charged, receiving the same consideration and punishment.