Crim Outline Sundby
Table of Contents
Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 4
Interpretation of Criminal Statutes ...................................................................................... 4
Ways of Interpreting Common Words .................................................................................. 4
MENS REA .......................................................................................................................... 4
Regina v. Cunningham (1957) England ................................................................................ 4
Note Cases ................................................................................................................................. 4
Pembliton (1874) .................................................................................................................. 4
Faulkner (1877) ..................................................................................................................... 5
Martin (1881) ........................................................................................................................ 5
Latimer (1886) ...................................................................................................................... 5
State v. Hatley (1963) ........................................................................................................... 5
INTENT....................................................................................................................................... 5
General and Specific.................................................................................................................... 5
State v. Rocker (1970, HI)...................................................................................................... 5
MPC 2.02 (a) S(b)................................................................................................................... 6
Intent Notes ........................................................................................................................... 6
Motive, Transferred and Conditional Intent............................................................................... 6
Smallwood v. State (1996, MD) ............................................................................................. 6
Justice v. State (1988) ............................................................................................................ 6
Patterson v. Commonwealth (1975) ..................................................................................... 6
Halloway v. United States ...................................................................................................... 6
Pembleton and Transferred Intent ....................................................................................... 7
Knowledge and Willful Blindness ............................................................................................... 7
State v. Beale (1973, Maine) .................................................................................................. 7
Note Cases ................................................................................................................................... 7
People v. Prante (1972) ......................................................................................................... 7
State v. Ware (1976) .............................................................................................................. 7
State v. Jantzi .......................................................................................................................... 7
US v. Jewel (1976) ...................................................................................................................... 8
MPC 2.02(b) S (7) Requirement of Knowledge Satisfied by Knowledge of High
Probability.............................................................................................................................. 8
State v. Cushman (1974) VT .................................................................................................. 8
Note Cases .............................................................................................................................. 9
RECKLESSNESS ......................................................................................................................... 9
State v. Larson (1998) ........................................................................................................... 9
Note Cases ............................................................................................................................ 10
MPC 2.02 (c) Recklessly ...................................................................................................... 10
NEGLIGENCE............................................................................................................................ 10
State v. Hazelwood (1997) (Alaska) ................................................................................... 10
Note Cases ............................................................................................................................ 11
Strict Liability ......................................................................................................................... 11
State v. Stepniewski (1982) WI ........................................................................................... 11
Mistake of Fact........................................................................................................................ 12
State v. Sexton (1999) SCOTUS NJ....................................................................................... 12
Mistake of Law........................................................................................................................ 12
1
, Crim Outline Sundby
People v. Marrero (1987) NY .............................................................................................. 12
Note Cases (Debate over meaning of Innocence) .............................................................. 13
ACTUS REA ...................................................................................................................... 15
VOLUNTARINESS .................................................................................................................... 15
State v. Caddell (1975) SCOTUS NC .................................................................................... 15
Note Cases ............................................................................................................................ 16
OMISSIONS .............................................................................................................................. 17
State v. Williquette (1986) .................................................................................................. 17
Note Cases ............................................................................................................................ 17
POSSESSION ............................................................................................................................ 17
People v. Gory (1946) SCOTUS CA ...................................................................................... 18
Note Cases ............................................................................................................................ 18
Smith v. State (2010) MD .................................................................................................... 18
CONSTITUTIONAL LIMITS ............................................................................................ 19
Presumptions: Limits on Evidentiary Shortcuts .............................................................. 19
Types of Presumptions ........................................................................................................ 19
Sandstrom v. Montana (1979) SCOTUS .............................................................................. 19
County Court of Ulster County v. Allen ............................................................................... 19
Note Case.............................................................................................................................. 20
Barnes v. US (1973) SCOTUS—stolen checks .................................................................... 20
State v. Cushman (1974) SC VT ........................................................................................... 20
Defining Crimes: Constitutional Limits.............................................................................. 20
State v. Palendrano (1972) .................................................................................................. 20
Keeler v. Superior Court ...................................................................................................... 21
Sodiock (Sundby favorite case) ........................................................................................... 21
MURDER MOST FOUL .................................................................................................... 21
VOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER ............................................................................................. 22
Wu (Weekly Reader Case) ................................................................................................... 23
Forest Case (WR) ................................................................................................................. 23
People v. Berry ..................................................................................................................... 23
Note Cases ............................................................................................................................ 23
Was the Intentional Murder First or Second Degree ---Pre-meditated test ................ 24
State v. Guthrie (1995) WV (Pre-meditation test reflection) ............................................ 24
NOTE CASE (prior calculation and design—premeditation) ........................................... 25
Intent to Do Serious Bodily Injury ...................................................................................... 25
Depraved Heart Murder (reckless indifference) ............................................................. 26
Involuntary Manslaughter.................................................................................................... 26
US v. Escamilla (1972) ......................................................................................................... 26
Felony Murder ........................................................................................................................ 27
State v. Goodseal .................................................................................................................. 27
CAUSATION ..................................................................................................................... 27
But For Cause (CAUSE IN FACT) ........................................................................................... 27
Proximate Cause..................................................................................................................... 28
State v. Rose.......................................................................................................................... 28
Kibbe v. Henderson (1976)---Independent........................................................................ 29
Regina v. Blaue (1975)---Dependent ................................................................................. 29
MENTAL IMPAIRMENT .................................................................................................. 29
2
, Crim Outline Sundby
Insanity .................................................................................................................................... 29
Tests for Insanity ................................................................................................................. 29
Burden of Proofs .................................................................................................................. 30
M’’Naghten Case................................................................................................................... 30
US v. Brawner (1972)—Federal test for insanity “Substantial Incapacitated Test” ........ 30
Intoxication ............................................................................................................................. 31
Montana v. Egelhoff (1996) MT .......................................................................................... 31
JUSTIFICATION AND EXECUSE ..................................................................................... 31
Self-Defense ............................................................................................................................ 31
Battered Women Syndrome ................................................................................................ 32
US v. Peterson....................................................................................................................... 32
Duress ...................................................................................................................................... 33
3
, Crim Outline Sundby
Introduction
Interpretation of Criminal Statutes
• legislative intent
• plain meaning
• context (other statutes might help shed light on statutory meaning)
Ways of Interpreting Common Words
• active (literal definition)
• passive (capability of doing something)
• Rule of Lenity: leniency goes in favor of the accused of the crime because the
gov’t is trying to take away your liberty
• example: Mary Hooch use v. carry definition—sold drugs to agent found gun
in locked trunk
MENS REA
• guilty mind or criminal intent
• culpability: what level required before we can convict someone of committing
a crime—developing a hierarchy of criminality
Regina v. Cunningham (1957) England
• Facts: Man breaks gas pipe for money, emitting a large amount of gas
resulting in the asphyxiation of an elderly neighbor (mother in law) next
door. Conviction reversed based on jury instruction of wickedness. SN:
Regina is queen of England
• Statute convicted under read unlawfully and maliciously administered or
caused to be taken by another person any poison or destructive noxious
thing.
• Issue: meaning of maliciously
• Holding: malice is intending to bring about the result or reckless
(foresaw the consequence)
Note Cases
Pembliton (1874)
• threw a rock at ppl, struck window—convicted of maliciously damaging real
property---conviction quashed because did not maliciously commit damage
to real property, meant to hit ppl (see above definition of malice)
• if could be proven that he threw rock knowing window might be hit maybe
could have upheld conviction
4
Table of Contents
Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 4
Interpretation of Criminal Statutes ...................................................................................... 4
Ways of Interpreting Common Words .................................................................................. 4
MENS REA .......................................................................................................................... 4
Regina v. Cunningham (1957) England ................................................................................ 4
Note Cases ................................................................................................................................. 4
Pembliton (1874) .................................................................................................................. 4
Faulkner (1877) ..................................................................................................................... 5
Martin (1881) ........................................................................................................................ 5
Latimer (1886) ...................................................................................................................... 5
State v. Hatley (1963) ........................................................................................................... 5
INTENT....................................................................................................................................... 5
General and Specific.................................................................................................................... 5
State v. Rocker (1970, HI)...................................................................................................... 5
MPC 2.02 (a) S(b)................................................................................................................... 6
Intent Notes ........................................................................................................................... 6
Motive, Transferred and Conditional Intent............................................................................... 6
Smallwood v. State (1996, MD) ............................................................................................. 6
Justice v. State (1988) ............................................................................................................ 6
Patterson v. Commonwealth (1975) ..................................................................................... 6
Halloway v. United States ...................................................................................................... 6
Pembleton and Transferred Intent ....................................................................................... 7
Knowledge and Willful Blindness ............................................................................................... 7
State v. Beale (1973, Maine) .................................................................................................. 7
Note Cases ................................................................................................................................... 7
People v. Prante (1972) ......................................................................................................... 7
State v. Ware (1976) .............................................................................................................. 7
State v. Jantzi .......................................................................................................................... 7
US v. Jewel (1976) ...................................................................................................................... 8
MPC 2.02(b) S (7) Requirement of Knowledge Satisfied by Knowledge of High
Probability.............................................................................................................................. 8
State v. Cushman (1974) VT .................................................................................................. 8
Note Cases .............................................................................................................................. 9
RECKLESSNESS ......................................................................................................................... 9
State v. Larson (1998) ........................................................................................................... 9
Note Cases ............................................................................................................................ 10
MPC 2.02 (c) Recklessly ...................................................................................................... 10
NEGLIGENCE............................................................................................................................ 10
State v. Hazelwood (1997) (Alaska) ................................................................................... 10
Note Cases ............................................................................................................................ 11
Strict Liability ......................................................................................................................... 11
State v. Stepniewski (1982) WI ........................................................................................... 11
Mistake of Fact........................................................................................................................ 12
State v. Sexton (1999) SCOTUS NJ....................................................................................... 12
Mistake of Law........................................................................................................................ 12
1
, Crim Outline Sundby
People v. Marrero (1987) NY .............................................................................................. 12
Note Cases (Debate over meaning of Innocence) .............................................................. 13
ACTUS REA ...................................................................................................................... 15
VOLUNTARINESS .................................................................................................................... 15
State v. Caddell (1975) SCOTUS NC .................................................................................... 15
Note Cases ............................................................................................................................ 16
OMISSIONS .............................................................................................................................. 17
State v. Williquette (1986) .................................................................................................. 17
Note Cases ............................................................................................................................ 17
POSSESSION ............................................................................................................................ 17
People v. Gory (1946) SCOTUS CA ...................................................................................... 18
Note Cases ............................................................................................................................ 18
Smith v. State (2010) MD .................................................................................................... 18
CONSTITUTIONAL LIMITS ............................................................................................ 19
Presumptions: Limits on Evidentiary Shortcuts .............................................................. 19
Types of Presumptions ........................................................................................................ 19
Sandstrom v. Montana (1979) SCOTUS .............................................................................. 19
County Court of Ulster County v. Allen ............................................................................... 19
Note Case.............................................................................................................................. 20
Barnes v. US (1973) SCOTUS—stolen checks .................................................................... 20
State v. Cushman (1974) SC VT ........................................................................................... 20
Defining Crimes: Constitutional Limits.............................................................................. 20
State v. Palendrano (1972) .................................................................................................. 20
Keeler v. Superior Court ...................................................................................................... 21
Sodiock (Sundby favorite case) ........................................................................................... 21
MURDER MOST FOUL .................................................................................................... 21
VOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER ............................................................................................. 22
Wu (Weekly Reader Case) ................................................................................................... 23
Forest Case (WR) ................................................................................................................. 23
People v. Berry ..................................................................................................................... 23
Note Cases ............................................................................................................................ 23
Was the Intentional Murder First or Second Degree ---Pre-meditated test ................ 24
State v. Guthrie (1995) WV (Pre-meditation test reflection) ............................................ 24
NOTE CASE (prior calculation and design—premeditation) ........................................... 25
Intent to Do Serious Bodily Injury ...................................................................................... 25
Depraved Heart Murder (reckless indifference) ............................................................. 26
Involuntary Manslaughter.................................................................................................... 26
US v. Escamilla (1972) ......................................................................................................... 26
Felony Murder ........................................................................................................................ 27
State v. Goodseal .................................................................................................................. 27
CAUSATION ..................................................................................................................... 27
But For Cause (CAUSE IN FACT) ........................................................................................... 27
Proximate Cause..................................................................................................................... 28
State v. Rose.......................................................................................................................... 28
Kibbe v. Henderson (1976)---Independent........................................................................ 29
Regina v. Blaue (1975)---Dependent ................................................................................. 29
MENTAL IMPAIRMENT .................................................................................................. 29
2
, Crim Outline Sundby
Insanity .................................................................................................................................... 29
Tests for Insanity ................................................................................................................. 29
Burden of Proofs .................................................................................................................. 30
M’’Naghten Case................................................................................................................... 30
US v. Brawner (1972)—Federal test for insanity “Substantial Incapacitated Test” ........ 30
Intoxication ............................................................................................................................. 31
Montana v. Egelhoff (1996) MT .......................................................................................... 31
JUSTIFICATION AND EXECUSE ..................................................................................... 31
Self-Defense ............................................................................................................................ 31
Battered Women Syndrome ................................................................................................ 32
US v. Peterson....................................................................................................................... 32
Duress ...................................................................................................................................... 33
3
, Crim Outline Sundby
Introduction
Interpretation of Criminal Statutes
• legislative intent
• plain meaning
• context (other statutes might help shed light on statutory meaning)
Ways of Interpreting Common Words
• active (literal definition)
• passive (capability of doing something)
• Rule of Lenity: leniency goes in favor of the accused of the crime because the
gov’t is trying to take away your liberty
• example: Mary Hooch use v. carry definition—sold drugs to agent found gun
in locked trunk
MENS REA
• guilty mind or criminal intent
• culpability: what level required before we can convict someone of committing
a crime—developing a hierarchy of criminality
Regina v. Cunningham (1957) England
• Facts: Man breaks gas pipe for money, emitting a large amount of gas
resulting in the asphyxiation of an elderly neighbor (mother in law) next
door. Conviction reversed based on jury instruction of wickedness. SN:
Regina is queen of England
• Statute convicted under read unlawfully and maliciously administered or
caused to be taken by another person any poison or destructive noxious
thing.
• Issue: meaning of maliciously
• Holding: malice is intending to bring about the result or reckless
(foresaw the consequence)
Note Cases
Pembliton (1874)
• threw a rock at ppl, struck window—convicted of maliciously damaging real
property---conviction quashed because did not maliciously commit damage
to real property, meant to hit ppl (see above definition of malice)
• if could be proven that he threw rock knowing window might be hit maybe
could have upheld conviction
4
