Z.W. v. Foster
Z.W. v. Foster
Opinion of the Court
¶ 1 The State of Arizona has charged real party in interest Derek Achenbach with one *583count of child molestation and two counts of sexual abuse, alleging that he committed these offenses against Z.W. In this special action proceeding, Z.W. challenges the superior court's ruling denying her request to preclude reference to her as the "alleged victim." She argues that allowing defense counsel to refer to her in that manner, rather than simply as the "victim," necessarily violates her statutory and constitutional rights under Arizona's Victims' Bill of Rights.
¶ 2 We accept jurisdiction because Z.W. has no adequate remedy by appeal to cure an asserted violation of her pretrial rights. See Ariz. R.P. Spec. Act. 1(a) ; State v. Wein ,
¶ 3 Arizona's Victims' Bill of Rights secures crime victims' rights to justice and due process throughout criminal proceedings. Ariz. Const. art. 2, § 2.1 (A); Ariz. Rev. Stat. ("A.R.S.") §§ 13-4401 to -4442. These important rights attach when a defendant is arrested or formally charged, and continue during trial and through the final disposition of the charges. A.R.S. § 13-4402(A) ; State ex rel. Romley v. Dairman ,
¶ 4 As Z.W. acknowledges, the Victims' Bill of Rights does not specify how a victim should be referred to in court proceedings, and it does not explicitly prohibit the use of the term "alleged victim." See Ariz. Const. art. 2, § 2.1 (A)(1)-(12). Nevertheless, Z.W. asserts that because the Victims' Bill of Rights only uses the term "victim" to refer to the crime victim, there is an implicit right to be referred to as such throughout the proceedings. But in context, the use of the term "victim" in the Victim's Bill of Rights simply confers unequivocally the status of victim and all its attendant rights to those defined as crime victims; the use of that term does not require that any particular appellation be used in referencing a victim in court proceedings. Moreover, we note that the Victims' Bill of Rights defines the word victim to include not only the "person against whom the criminal offense has been committed," but also that person's "spouse, parent, child or other lawful representative" if that person is killed or incapacitated. Ariz. Const. art. 2, § 2.1 (C). Interpreting the Victims' Bill of Rights as Z.W. urges to require that all victims be referred to as they are in the constitutional provision would be confusing and impractical in court proceedings. Thus, we do not read the language of the constitutional provision to require that a specific appellation be used.
¶ 5 Notwithstanding the absence of an explicit or implicit right to be referred to in any particular manner, the Victims' Bill of Rights confirms that every crime victim in Arizona has the right to be treated throughout the criminal justice process with "fairness, respect, and dignity, and to be free from intimidation, harassment, or abuse." Ariz. Const. art. 2, § 2.1 (A)(1). Z.W. argues that the term "alleged victim" necessarily (and as a matter of law) violates this right because it calls into question whether a crime was committed and whether someone is in fact a victim. But the term "alleged victim" simply reflects the procedural posture of a case such as this in which the defendant disputes that any crime occurred. Although "alleged victim" connotes some degree of uncertainty as to whether a crime occurred, until a defendant has been convicted of a charged offense, the case involves an alleged criminal act against an alleged victim. Characterizing the proceedings in this manner thus accurately conveys the procedural posture of the case and does not inherently violate a victim's right to be treated with fairness, respect, and dignity.
¶ 6 Z.W. also asserts that the term "alleged victim" improperly suggests she is untrustworthy. But the use of that term is not a comment on the victim's credibility, just as the use of the term "defendant" or-a more apt comparison-"alleged perpetrator" is not a comment on a defendant's credibility. Instead, such a reference simply avoids prejudging and reserves judgment on credibility issues, which are for the jury alone to decide.
*584¶ 7 That is not to say that using the term "alleged victim" is always appropriate. Rather, the superior court retains discretion to assess-on a case-by-case basis-whether a particular reference to a victim undermines the victim's right to be treated with fairness, respect, and dignity under the particular circumstances presented. When, for example, the proceedings involve circumstances in which there is no question that a crime has been perpetrated on the victim, and the defendant has only challenged who committed the crime, the superior court could reasonably conclude that referring to the crime victim as an "alleged victim" would mischaracterize the nature of the proceedings and be disrespectful to the victim. But in circumstances such as those presented here, where the core issue in dispute is whether any crime occurred, the superior court does not abuse its discretion by accurately conveying the nature of the proceedings, and by weighing the victim's request to be referred to in a specific way against the defendant's right to have the court reserve judgment on credibility issues. See State v. Bible ,
¶ 8 The question of whether using the term "alleged victim" necessarily violates a victim's rights is an issue of first impression in Arizona. But courts in other jurisdictions that have addressed similar arguments have likewise concluded that trial courts should have flexibility in determining how to refer to crime victims during criminal proceedings. See Jackson v. State ,
¶ 9 Finally, we note that our holding that the superior court does not abuse its discretion by permitting reference to an "alleged victim" in a case such as this does not obviate the need to consider the victim's right to be referred to in a respectful manner. If, as Z.W. posits, a defendant refers to a victim-whether as "the victim" or "the alleged victim"-with a sarcastic or insulting intonation, the superior court is empowered to prohibit such intonation as disrespectful. Moreover, if a victim requests that a particular name or part of a name be used or not be used when being referenced in court proceedings, great deference should be accorded to the victim's wishes. And nothing prevents the prosecutor from complying with a victim's request to be referred to by name rather than as "the victim." In short, although the court maintains discretion in determining how to reference a crime victim in court proceedings, the victim maintains the right to be treated with fairness, respect, and dignity.
CONCLUSION
¶ 10 Based on the foregoing, we accept jurisdiction but deny relief.
Dissenting Opinion
¶ 11 The Arizona Constitution, through the Victims' Bill of Rights and the Victims' Rights Implementation Act, affords the designation of "victim" to all individuals against whom a crime has allegedly been committed, *585at all stages of a criminal proceeding. Because I do not agree with the majority's conclusion that referring to Z.W. as an "alleged victim" is appropriate as a matter of law, I respectfully dissent.
¶ 12 Crime victims' rights in Arizona are protected by our constitution, by statute, and by court rule. In 1990, Arizona voters approved an amendment to the state constitution, the Victims' Bill of Rights, which gives crime victims a panoply of rights. The year following the adoption of the Victims' Bill of Rights, the legislature enacted the Victims' Rights Implementation Act, Arizona Revised Statutes ("A.R.S.") sections 13-4401 to -4437. 1991 Ariz. Sess. Laws, ch. 229, §§ 1, 7. The Victims' Bill of Rights and the Victims' Rights Implementation Act define "[v]ictim" as "a person against whom the criminal offense has been committed[.]" Ariz. Const. art. 2, § 2.1 (C); A.R.S. § 13-4401(19).
¶ 13 In addition to defining "victim," the legislature set forth that "the rights and duties that are established by this chapter [victims' rights] arise on the arrest or formal charging of the person or persons who are alleged to be responsible for a criminal offense against a victim ... [and] continue to be enforceable ... until the final disposition of the charges[.]" A.R.S. § 13-4402(A). Accordingly, we have concluded that "[v]ictims' rights accrue at the time of arrest or formal charge of the alleged incident and take root as the criminal proceedings progress." State ex rel. Romley v. Dairman ,
¶ 14 Because a person against whom a crime has allegedly been committed is afforded several, substantive pre-trial rights pursuant to Arizona law, logic dictates this individual is a "victim" and should be referred to as such. See Knapp v. Martone ,
¶ 15 Deciding that Z.W. has the right to be referred to as a "victim" throughout the criminal proceeding, however, does not end our inquiry. We have previously held that "in some cases some victims' rights may be required to give way to a defendant's federal constitutional rights." State ex rel. Romley v. Hutt ,
*586¶ 16 Moreover, applying this appellation to Z.W. would in no way impede Achenbach from asserting a full and complete defense at trial. In fact, at two critical points in the trial-before the presentation of evidence and at the conclusion of the case-the jurors are informed of Achenbach's incontrovertible due process rights. At the beginning of the proceeding, the jury would be advised that Achenbach has a constitutional right not to testify at trial and the exercise of that right cannot be considered in determining whether he is guilty or not guilty.
Although for the reasons stated above I conclude that Z.W. has a right to be referred to as a "victim," I do not believe that she must be referred to as a "victim." Defense counsel could call Z.W. by her name if desired, however, it would contravene Arizona law to refer to her as an "alleged victim."
Revised Arizona Jury Instructions Preliminary Criminal 18, (4th ed. 2016).
Revised Arizona Jury Instructions Preliminary Criminal 20 and 22, (4th ed. 2016).
Revised Arizona Jury Instructions Standard 5(a), 5(b)(1), and 15 (4th ed. 2016).
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.