State v. Zeimer
State v. Zeimer
Dissenting Opinion
(dissenting).
I dissent, since I believe this decision to be judicial legislation. The statute says the habitual criminal matter shall be tried “forthwith” and “by the same jury.” To me this is clear, plain, simple, understandable language and should not be dismissed “because no good reason appears why the legislature would intend such a result.” It is not our function to change legislation by weighing good or bad reasons the legislature might have indulged. If it were our function, one good reason suggests itself to the writer why the legislature used the precise language it did advisedly and deliberately, — to save the taxpayers the expense of a second jury and a second trial.
Opinion of the Court
From the granting of a new trial solely on the issue of whether he was an habitual criminal, and from the instructions to the jury on that issue, defendant appeals. Defendant contends that the court cannot grant a new trial solely on the issue of prior convictions because the jury which determines if a man is an habitual criminal must be the jury which finds him guilty of the joined offense.
Zeimer was tried under an information alleging second degree burglary and alleging prior convictions and terms in state prisons. The jury found him guilty of the burglary charge, but the court declared a mistrial during the subsequent proceeding on the status of habitual criminal. The court ordered a new trial solely on the latter issue. The new trial was before a new jury and resulted in a verdict determining that Zeimer was an habitual criminal.
(1) The court should order a dismissal of the part of the complaint alleging prior convictions. Perhaps this rule can be limited to cases wherein the court has given judgment upon the criminal offense.
(2) The court should order a new trial of both the status and the alleged crime.
(3) The court should give the prosecuting attorney his choice: either accept a new trial on both status and substantive crime or accept a dismissal of the part of the complaint alleging prior convictions.
(4) The court should order a: new trial limited to the .question of status.
Appellant contends that the court should choose among the first three rules because the Utah statute requires that both the substantive offense and the status be tried by the same jury. The Utah statute uses the phrase, “ * * * the defendant shall be tried forthwith by the same jury. * * * ”
The court rejects appellant’s argument because no good reason appears why the legislature would intend such a result. The statute recognizes that even though the allegation of being an habitual criminal bé- included in the information charging the substantive crime, the question of status should be presented to the jury only after it determines the guilt of the defendant. The rule keeps the proof of prior crimes from the jury until after it determines the issue of the substantive offense. This saves the accused from the prejudicial effect of proof that he has committed crimes in the past.
Appellant contends that the instructions to the jury on the issue of prior convictions are in error because they infer that being an habitual criminal is a crime. The instructions refer to the charge of an offense, to the question of defendant’s guilt, and to the burden of proof necessary for conviction. The italicized words would lead a jury to believe that defendant is charged with, a crime. This is error; being an habitual criminal is not a crime, but a status.
While defendant is semantically correct, he is legally without reversible error be
The trial court is affirmed.
. Sec. 76-1-19, U.C.A.1953.
. State v. Russum, 107 Utah 94, 152 P.2d 88.
. Rex v. Hunter, 1 K.B. 555 (1921).
. Eugene v. State, Tex.Cr.App., 317 S.W. 2d 203; Gossett v. Commonwealth, Ky., 302 S.W.2d 380; State v. Nelson, 130 Mont. 466, 304 P.2d 1110.
. People v. Morton, Cal.App., 258 P.2d 100, modified in People v. Morton, 41 Cal.2d 536, 261 P.2d 523.
. People v. Morton, 41 Cal.2d 536, 261 P. 2d 523 (discussing California precedent for all four rules); State v. Hillerud, 76 S.D. 476, 81 N.W.2d 130. Apparently, Florida would follow this rule. See Shargaa v. State, Fla., 102 So.2d 814, certiorari denied 358 U.S. 873, 79 S.Ct. 114, 3 L.Ed.2d 104.
. See note 1, supra.
. Swift v. Smith, 119 Colo. 126, 201 P.2d 609.
. I. e. compare “the jury shall not be told ■of the previous convictions of felony and the trial on the felony committed Within the state of Utah shall proceed as in other cases * * * ” with State v. Stewart, 110 Utah 203, 171 P.2d 383.
. State v. Stewart, 110 Utah 203, 171 P. 2d 383. The statute appears to he a legislative adoption of the rule of that case.
. Sec. 77-53-2, U.C.A.1953.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- STATE of Utah, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. Jack ZEIMER, Defendant and Appellant
- Cited By
- 19 cases
- Status
- Published