State v. Moore
State v. Moore
Opinion of the Court
¶1 The “to convict” instruction informed the jury that, if it found each element proved beyond a reasonable doubt, it had the duty to convict. This instruction does not violate a defendant’s constitutional right to a jury trial. It neither misstates the law nor invades the province of the jury. We affirm.
DISCUSSION
¶2 At Ryan Moore’s trial,
[i]f you find from the evidence that each of these elements has been proved beyond a reasonable doubt, then it will be your duty to return a verdict of guilty.
On the other hand, if, after weighing all of the evidence, you have a reasonable doubt as to any one of these elements, then it will be your duty to return a verdict of not guilty.
(Emphasis added.) Moore argues that the instruction violated his constitutional right to a jury trial.
¶3 We thought that this issue was resolved.
¶4 In Meggyesy, the appellants argued that a proper instruction would have informed the jury that it may convict if the State proved all elements of the crime. 90 Wn. App. at 697. We rejected their argument, holding that the trial court is not required to instruct the jury that it may acquit.
¶5 Brown and Wilson subsequently agreed with Meggyesy, despite the appellants’ attempts to distinguish their challenges. Brown argued that he raised a different issue, because he directly challenged the “duty” language, rather than asking the court to instruct the jury that it “may” convict. 130 Wn. App. at 770-71. The Brown court did not find this distinction meaningful: “The Meggyesy court, although addressing a slightly different argument, held that instructing the jury it had a ‘duty’ to convict if it found the elements were proven beyond a reasonable doubt did not misstate the law.” Id. at 771. Wilson argued that, under Washington law, juries never have a duty to convict and that the instruction violated the Washington Constitution.
¶6 Moore does not contest Meggyesy’s holding that an instruction on the jury’s power to acquit would be improper. Instead, he argues — much like Brown and Wilson — that he raises a distinct issue, because he directly challenges the “duty to convict” language. Moore maintains that the law never requires the jury to find a defendant guilty. Accordingly, he contends that the instruction misstated the law and misled the jury about its power to acquit against the evidence.
¶7 By statute, every juror must swear or affirm to uphold and follow the law:
When the jury has been selected, an oath or affirmation shall be administered to the jurors [that they] will well, and truly try, the matter in issue between the plaintiff and defendant, and a true verdict give, according to the law and evidence as given them on the trial.
RCW 4.44.260.
¶9 The jury has the ability to acquit against the evidence. But, it does not have the right to do so. See Meggyesy, 90 Wn. App. at 700. The court is not obligated to instruct the jury about that ability. Id. And, the court’s lack of remedy against nullification is not because the jury lacks a duty to uphold the law. See Hartigan, 1 Wash. Terr, at 451. The court does not inquire into the jury’s verdict out of respect for our judicial system. See State v. Balisok, 123 Wn.2d 114, 117-18, 866 P.2d 631 (1994) (noting that the policy behind not inquiring is to promote stable and certain verdicts and allow the jury to freely discuss the evidence). This deference does not relieve the jury of its duty to obey the law as given to it and apply that law to the facts before it.
¶10 Here, the challenged instruction leaves for the jurors the role of evaluating the facts and applying the law as given to them, consistent with their oath. Thus, the instruction permits the jury to draw the ultimate conclusion of guilt or innocence, as the jury is required to do. See United
¶11 This issue was settled by Meggyesy and affirmed in Brown and Wilson. We reaffirm and uphold the to convict instruction given here: “If you find from the evidence that each of these elements has been proved beyond a reasonable doubt, then it will be your duty to return a verdict of guilty.” (Emphasis added.)
¶12 This is a correct statement of the law. Jurors have a duty to apply the law given to them. This instruction does not invade the province of the jury nor otherwise violate a defendant’s right to a jury trial. The trial court does not err in giving the instruction when requested.
¶13 The remainder of this opinion has no precedential value. Therefore, it will be filed for public record in accordance with the rules governing unpublished opinions.
Review denied at 180 Wn.2d 1019 (2014).
Moore was convicted of bail jumping. The facts are not significant to this issue and are set out in the unpublished section of this opinion.
In fact, this case is only one of many recent appeals making this challenge to the same jury instruction.
Abrogated, on other grounds by State v. Recuenco, 154 Wn.2d 156, 110 P.3d 188 (2005), reversed by Washington v. Recuenco, 548 U.S. 212, 126 S. Ct. 2546, 165 L. Ed. 2d 466 (2006).
This instruction is also referred to as a jury nullification instruction. See Meggyesy, 90 Wn. App. at 699-700. Jury nullification “occurs when the defendant’s guilt is clear beyond a reasonable doubt, but the jury, based on its own sense of justice or fairness, decides to acquit.” Andrew D. Leipold, Rethinking Jury Nullification, 82 Va. L. Rev. 253, 253 (1996).
“The jury shall be sworn or affirmed well and truly to try the issue between the State and the defendant, according to the evidence and instructions by the court.” CrR 6.6.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- The State of Washington v. Ryan Patrick Moore
- Cited By
- 16 cases
- Status
- Published