State v. Chacon
State v. Chacon
Opinion of the Court
*478¶ 1 John Chacon seeks reversal of an unpublished Court of Appeals opinion affirming his conviction for second degree assault and criminal trespass. At trial, the judge instructed the jury on reasonable doubt, using 11 Washington Practice: Washington Pattern Jury Instructions: Criminal 4.01, at 93 (4th ed. 2016) (WPIC), but omitted the last sentence of that instruction, which states, "The defendant has no burden of proving that a reasonable doubt exists." See Clerk's Papers (CP) at 30-31, 66.
¶ 2 We hold the instruction given here was not manifest constitutional error and affirm Chacon's conviction.
FACTS
¶ 3 Chacon was charged with second degree assault and first degree criminal trespass, following an altercation and subsequent arrest at the Olympia Senior Center. At trial, the State and defense both provided the court with proposed jury instructions, and the State specifically provided the court with WPIC 4.01, the burden of proof instruction. However, the instruction to the jury did not include the last sentence of the instruction, as mentioned above.
ANALYSIS
RAP 2.5(a)(3)
¶ 4 Chacon did not object to the court's reasonable doubt instruction. Ordinarily, we do not consider unpreserved errors raised for the first time on review. State v . Scott ,
¶ 5 To determine whether manifest constitutional error was committed there must be " 'a plausible showing by the [appellant] that the asserted error had practical and identifiable consequences in the trial of the case.' " State v . O'Hara,
¶ 6 Some jury instruction errors have been held to constitute manifest constitutional error in this state such as shifting the burden of proof to the defendant, State v. McCullum,
Constitutional Requirements
¶ 7 The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution requires that "[i]n all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury." U.S. CONST. amend. VI. It is well settled that the right to a jury trial is a fundamental right, essential to a fair trial. Duncan v . Louisiana,
¶ 8 To satisfy due process under the Fourteenth Amendment, the prosecution bears the burden of proving every element of every crime beyond a reasonable doubt. U.S. CONST. amend. XIV ; Jackson v . Virginia,
¶ 9 Similarly, the presumption of innocence in favor of the accused is " 'axiomatic and elementary' " and "is a basic component of a fair trial under our system of criminal justice." Estelle v . Williams,
¶ 10 In Victor, the Supreme Court considered two separate jury instructions. The instructions for defendant Sandoval did not state that the defendant bore no burden to show a reasonable doubt existed. In defendant Victor's instructions, there was a provision similar to WPIC 4.01, where the State's burden of proof " 'never shifts.' " Victor,
Manifest Error
¶ 11 The Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments collectively require that a jury *480is instructed on the proper burden of proof and the defendant's presumption of innocence, and that a jury verdict is the result of a complete understanding of those requirements. Thus, in order for Chacon to show manifest constitutional error, he must prove his complaint falls under one of these principles.
¶ 12 Here, Chacon complains that the jury instruction deviates from WPIC 4.01, which provides:
[The] [Each] defendant has entered a plea of not guilty. That plea puts in issue every element of [the] [each] crime charged. The [State] [City] [County] is the plaintiff and has the burden of proving each element of [the] [each] crime beyond a reasonable doubt. The defendant has no burden of proving that a reasonable doubt exists [as to these elements].
A defendant is presumed innocent. This presumption continues throughout the entire trial unless during your deliberations you find it has been overcome by the evidence beyond a reasonable doubt.
A reasonable doubt is one for which a reason exists and may arise from the evidence or lack of evidence. It is such a doubt as would exist in the mind of a reasonable person after fully, fairly, and carefully considering all of the evidence or lack of evidence. [If, from such consideration, you have an abiding belief in the truth of the charge, you are satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt.]
WPIC 4.01 at 93. The trial court omitted the last sentence: "The defendant has no burden of proving that a reasonable doubt exists." See CP at 30-31, 66. Relying on State v . Bennett ,
¶ 13 In Bennett , the court was urged to invalidate a reasonable doubt instruction called a " Castle instruction," so named for the case that approved it, State v . Castle,
We have approved WPIC 4.01 and conclude that sound judicial practice requires that this instruction be given until a better instruction is approved. Trial courts are instructed to use the WPIC 4.01 instruction to inform the jury of the government's burden to prove every element of the charged crime beyond a reasonable doubt.
Id. at 318,
¶ 14 In Bennett, we did not mandate WPIC 4.01 because we believed it to be the minimum constitutional requirement. We did so to promote uniformity and simplicity in defining a core concept of our justice system.
*481¶ 15 The dissent argues it is error to examine the omission standing alone and we must consider the totality of the circumstances in evaluating whether there is manifest constitutional error. See dissent at 483-84. Yet Chacon raised a claim of error on the jury instruction alone, not the prosecutor's remarks at trial. RAP 2.5(a)(3) dictates that we focus on the claim of error.
¶ 16 As explained above, the Constitution requires that a jury is informed of the State's burden of proof and that the defendant is presumed innocent until proved guilty. The jury instructions given in this case adequately relayed the State's burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt and the defendant's presumption of innocence. The omitted language reinforces that the burden of proof rests entirely on the State. The instruction, as given here, did not amount to constitutional error.
¶ 17 In arguing to the contrary, Chacon relies on State v . Castillo,
¶ 18 Castillo does not support Chacon's argument for manifest constitutional error. First, the instruction in that case bears no resemblance to the instruction here. Second, the Castillo court did not end its discussion with its reminder that courts have been instructed to use WPIC 4.01. Instead, the court analyzed the instruction given in light of the Constitution's due process requirements. Third, the defendant in Castillo timely objected and, therefore, the Court of Appeals did not consider whether giving the instruction was manifest constitutional error.
¶ 19 Chacon also argues that if this court rejects what he describes as Castillo's automatic reversal rule, then we should follow *482Lundy and apply a harmless error analysis. He contends the error in his trial was not harmless. Similar to this case, in Lundy the court examined a modified WPIC 4.01 jury instruction that was unobjected to by the defendant.
¶ 20 Manifest constitutional error requires a showing that the alleged error itself had "practical and identifiable consequences." Here, the instruction given by the trial court did not misinform the jury of the State's burden of proof, as the evidentiary standard was explicitly relayed to the jury. The omitted provision only reinforces and reiterates to the jury that the burden of proof lies entirely with the prosecution. We find no manifest constitutional error.
CONCLUSION
¶ 21 The instruction given in this case, omitting language that the defendant bears no burden of proving a reasonable doubt exists, does not violate the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments and is not manifest constitutional error.
WE CONCUR:
Johnson, J.
Owens, J.
Stephens, J.
Wiggins, J.
¶ 22 "This court, as guardians of all constitutional protections, is vigilant to protect the presumption of innocence." State v . Bennett,
¶ 23 Here, neither party objected to the incomplete instruction. The record suggests the parties mistakenly believed the court gave the entire reasonable doubt pattern jury instruction. The court's failure to give a complete instruction on the burden of proof implicates the constitutional right to a fair trial. The State's burden of proof beyond a *483reasonable doubt is "the bedrock principle of the presumption of innocence, the foundation of our criminal justice system." State v . Warren,
¶ 24 The omission alone may not be enough to show manifest constitutional error. But here, during closing argument, the prosecutor misstated the burden of proof by telling the jurors that finding no reasonable doubt meant they believed Chacon "did it." Report of Proceedings (RP) at 514. In response, defense counsel informed the jury that the defendant did not have a burden to prove reasonable doubt, but, during rebuttal, the prosecutor suggested that conviction was required because the defendant failed to provide evidence of his innocence. See id. at 561, 581-82.
¶ 25 The court's omission in the jury instructions affected Chacon's interconnected constitutional rights given the closing arguments in this case. U.S. CONST. amends. VI, XIV ; WASH. CONST. art. I, §§ 3, 22. Chacon was tried with an incomplete reasonable doubt instruction, and since the prosecutor repeatedly misstated the burden, the alleged error is sufficiently manifest and demands review. The trial court omitted a sentence from Washington Pattern Jury Instructions: Criminal 4.01 (WPIC) regarding the defendant's lack of burden to establish reasonable doubt. Bennett,
¶ 26 The majority relies on Kentucky v . Whorton for the proposition that due process "does not even absolutely require that an instruction on the presumption of innocence be given." Majority at 479 (citing Kentucky v . Whorton,
¶ 27 In this case, the evidence was not overwhelming; it was "contradictory and inconclusive," and therefore, "correct[ ] place[ment of] the burden ... was vital" to the outcome.
¶ 28 When a jury fails to receive a complete instruction-and the totality of the circumstances indicate due process was violated-such an error represents a manifest injustice affecting a constitutional right. Chacon's fundamental due process rights deserve consideration on the merits, not disposal by procedure. The majority's holding eviscerates Bennett : jury instructions shall include a statement that the defendant has no burden whatsoever.
Yu, J.
Gordon McCloud, J.
Fairhurst, C.J.
It is not clear why the sentence was omitted. The State's proposed instruction included the sentence, and Chacon claims he did too, although his proposed instructions are not in the appellate record.
The dissent seems to suggest we are relying on Whorton to justify the omission of the last sentence in WPIC 4.01. See dissent at 483. We are not. We cite it simply to reiterate due process requirements under the United States Constitution. Whorton held that failing to instruct on the presumption of innocence is not per se reversible error. We have taken the same approach in In re Personal Restraint of Lile,
However, it is unnecessary to engage in a "totality of the circumstances" analysis a la Whorton. The presumption of innocence was clearly instructed to the jury. The jury instruction read, "A defendant is presumed innocent. This presumption continues throughout the entire trial unless during your deliberations you find it has been overcome by the evidence beyond a reasonable doubt." CP at 31. There was no "lingering ambiguity" in the presumption of innocence instruction. See dissent at 483 n. 1.
The Castle instruction in Bennett reads as follows:
The State is the plaintiff and has the burden of proving each element of the crime
A defendant is presumed innocent. This presumption continues throughout the entire trial unless during your deliberations you find it has been overcome by the evidence beyond a reasonable doubt.
Proof beyond a reasonable doubt is proof that leaves you firmly convinced of the defendant's guilt. There are very few things in this world that we know with absolute certainty, and in criminal cases the law does not require proof that overcomes every possible doubt. If, based on your consideration of the evidence, you are firmly convinced that the defendant is guilty of the crime charged, you must find him guilty. If on the other hand, you think there is a real possibility that he is not guilty, you must give him the benefit of the doubt and find him not guilty.
Bennett,
The dissent decries our approach as based in "procedure." See dissent at 484. But Chacon relies on a procedural remedy to provide recourse due to his failure to object at trial. Thus, we must work within the framework of the asserted procedure to determine if we can provide the petitioner relief. RAP 2.5(a)(3) requires that the defendant "show how the alleged error actually affected the defendant's [constitutional] rights at trial." Kirkman,
Division Two has also held that failing to provide the Bennett instruction is not an error of constitutional magnitude. See State v. Jimenez Macias,
The instruction in Castillo read, in part,
A "reasonable doubt" is not a fanciful or ingenious doubt or conjecture, but an honest, conscientious doubt suggested by the material evidence or lack of it in the case. It is an honest misgiving caused by insufficiency of proof of guilt. Proof beyond a reasonable doubt does not mean proof to an absolute or mathematical certainty, but it does mean proof which leaves you firmly convinced of the defendant's guilt. The proof need not exclude every hypothesis or possibility of innocence, but proof beyond a reasonable doubt must exclude every fair and rational hypothesis except that of guilt.
Castillo,
The jury instruction read:
A defendant is presumed innocent. This presumption continues throughout the entire trial unless you find during your deliberations that it has been overcome by evidence beyond a reasonable doubt.
Each crime charged by the State includes one or more elements which are explained in a subsequent instruction. The State has the burden of proving each element of a charged crime beyond a reasonable doubt. The defendant has no burden of proving that a reasonable doubt exists.
A reasonable doubt is one for which a reason exists and may arise from the evidence or lack of evidence. It is such a doubt as would exist in the mind of a reasonable person after fully, fairly, and carefully considering all of the evidence or lack of evidence. If, from such consideration, you have an abiding belief in the truth of the charge, you are satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt.
Lundy,
The majority says Chacon "raised a claim of error on the jury instruction alone, not the prosecutor's remarks at trial." Majority at 481. I disagree. We limited our review in this case to WPIC 4.01. Order, No. 95194-2 (Feb. 7, 2018); Suppl. Br. of Pet'r at 17 n. 10. Chacon argued the prosecutor's remarks at trial prejudiced him. See Pet. for Review at 18; Suppl. Br. of Pet'r at 17-18. Our analysis of the prosecutor's remarks goes to whether, given the cumulative effective of the remarks and the instructional error, Chacon is entitled to relief.
The simultaneously complex and crucial nature of the reasonable doubt instruction is a likely reason why all published federal pattern jury instructions include language specifying the defendant's lack of burden in addition to instructions on the State's burden of proof. Moreover, a majority of states with published jury instructions include this language as well. Empirical research and the national trend of robust jury instructions highlight the need to instruct juries on the State's burden of proof and the defendant's lack of burden.
A study of postverdict jurors found that nearly one-third of the jurors believed as long as the State presents some evidence, "it becomes the defendant's responsibility to persuade the jury of his [or her] innocence." Lawrence M. Solan, Refocusing the Burden of Proof in Criminal Cases: Some Doubt about Reasonable Doubt,
The majority declares, "The omitted provision only reinforces and reiterates to the jury that the burden of proof lies entirely with the prosecution." Majority at 482. This is demonstrably false. Lingering ambiguity in any instruction is contrary to the presumption of innocence and would only serve to confuse the jury.
The parties disputed whether Chacon caused Officer Davis' injury. The other officers present did not see Chacon strike Officer Davis, and Officer Davis' doctor was uncertain of the cause of the injury.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- STATE of Washington v. John Anthony CHACON
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- 32 cases
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- Published