In Re: Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases—report 2016-01

213 So. 3d 680
CourtSupreme Court of Florida
DecidedMarch 9, 2017
DocketSC16-724
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 213 So. 3d 680 (In Re: Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases—report 2016-01) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In Re: Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases—report 2016-01, 213 So. 3d 680 (Fla. 2017).

Opinion

PER CURIAM.

The Supreme Court Committee on Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases (Committee) has submitted a report proposing amendments to seven existing standard criminal jury instructions and the addition of two new instructions. We have jurisdiction. See Art. V, § 2(a), Fla. Const.

The Committee proposes amending existing instructions 3.6(a) (Insanity); 5.1 (Attempt to Commit Crime); 5.2 (Criminal Solicitation); 5.3 (Criminal Conspiracy); 6.6 (Attempted Manslaughter by Act); 7.7 (Manslaughter); and 8.25 (Violation of a Condition of Pretrial Release from a Domestic Violence Charge). 1 The Committee also proposes adding new instructions 3.6(p) (Abnormal Mental Condition) and 7.7(a) (Aggravated Manslaughter).

Before filing its report with the Court, the Committee published its proposals for comment. Upon consideration of the comments submitted, the Committee modified some of its proposals. The Committee did not republish its proposals.

After the Committee filed its report, the Court published the Committee’s proposals for comment. A comment was received from the Florida Public Defender Association regarding existing instructions 3.6(a) and 8.25, and new instruction 3.6(p). A response was filed by the Committee.

Having considered the Committee’s report, the comment filed, and the Committee’s response, we hereby authorize for publication and use amended instructions 3.6(a), 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 6.6, 7.7, and 8.25, and new instructions 3.6(p) and 7.7(a), with the following modification. We amend the new comment to instruction 5.3 to include the phrase “renunciation remains a defense to conspiracy to commit a crime where some harm was done.” The phrase was omitted by the Committee, and its addition conforms the new comment for instruction 5.3 with the new comment added to instructions 5.1 and 5.2.

Accordingly, the instructions, as set forth in the appendix to this opinion, are authorized for publication and use. 2 In authorizing the publication and use of these instructions, we express no opinion on their correctness and remind all interested parties that this authorization forecloses neither requesting additional or alternative instructions nor contesting the legal correctness of the instructions. We further caution all interested parties that any comments associated with the instructions reflect only the opinion of the Committee and are not necessarily indicative of the views of this Court as to their correctness or applicability. New language is indicated by underlining and deleted language is indicated by struck-through type. The in- *682 forth in the appendix when this opinion be-structions as set shall be effective comes final.

It is so ordered.

LABARGA, C.J., and PARIENTE, LEWIS, QUINCE, CANADY, and POLSTON, JJ., concur. LAWSON, J., did not participate.

Appendix

3.6(a) INSANITY

An issue in this case is whether (defendant) was insane when the crime allegedly was committed.

A person is considered to be insane w'hen:

1. [He] [She] had a mental infirmity, disease, or defect.

2. Because of this condition

a. [he] [she] did not know' what [he] [she] was doing or its consequences or

b. although [he] [she] knew what [he] [she] was doing and its consequences, [he] [she] did not know' it was wrong.

Give-ifappUmbhr

A defendantwho-believ-ed that what- [he]-[she] was doing was morally right is not insane-if-the-defendant-lHaow that-what [he] [she] was doing violated societal standa-rds-or was against-tho4ftWr

All persons are presumed to be sane. The defendant has the burden of proving the defense of insanity by clear and convincing evidence. Clear and convincing evidence is evidence that is precise, explicit, lacking in confusion, and of such weight that it produces a firm belief, without hesitation, about the matter in issue.

In determining the issue of insanity, you may consider the testimony of expert and nonexpert witnesses. The question you must answer is not whether the defendant is insane today, or has ever been insane, but whether instead the defendant was insane at the time the crime allegedly was committed.

Give if applicable.

A defendant who believed that what fhel Ishel was doing was morally right is not insane if the defendant knew that what fhel Ishel was doing violated societal standards or was against the law.

*683 Give if applicable.

Unrestrained passion or ungovernable temper is not insanity, even though the normal judgment of the person is overcome by passion or temper.

*Give if avvlicable and if requested.

Although insanity is a defense, mental or psychiatric conditions not constituting insanity are not defenses to any crime in this case. Unless there is clear and convincing evidence that ('defendant') was insane at the time of the crimetsl alleged, any evidence of mental illness, an abnormal mental condition, or diminished mental capacity may not be taken into consideration to show that fhel fshel lacked the specific intent or did not have the state of mind essential to proving that The! fshel committed the crimefsl charged Tor anv lesser crime!.

If the evidence establishes that the defendant had been adjudged insane by a court, and has not been judicially restored to legal sanity, then you should assume the defendant was insane at the time of commission of the alleged crime, unless the evidence convinces you otherwise.

Give in all cases.

If you find that (defendant) committed the crime but you find by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant was insane, then you should And [him] [her] not guilty by reason of insanity.

If your verdict is that the defendant is not guilty by reason of insanity, that does not necessarily mean [he] [she] will be released from custody. T must conduct further proceedings to determine if the defendant should be committed to a mental hospital, or given other outpatient treatment or released.

Comments

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*This paragraph should be read only where it is applicable and appropriate under the facts of the case. “IDIiminished capacity is not a viable defense in Florida.” Evans v. State. 946 So. 2d 1, 11 (Fla. 2006): Lukehart v. State. 70 So. 3d 503, 515 (Fla. 2011). Evidence of an abnormal mental condition not constituting legal insanity is inadmissible “for the purpose of proving either that the accused *684

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Bluebook (online)
213 So. 3d 680, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-standard-jury-instructions-in-criminal-casesreport-2016-01-fla-2017.