268 P. 909 | Cal. | 1928
Lead Opinion
[EDITORS' NOTE: THIS PAGE CONTAINS HEADNOTES. HEADNOTES ARE NOT AN OFFICIAL PRODUCT OF THE COURT, THEREFORE THEY ARE NOT DISPLAYED.] *472
[EDITORS' NOTE: THIS PAGE CONTAINS HEADNOTES. HEADNOTES ARE NOT AN OFFICIAL PRODUCT OF THE COURT, THEREFORE THEY ARE NOT DISPLAYED.] *473 The defendant was charged with having kidnaped and murdered Marion Parker, a twelve year old Los Angeles schoolgirl. He confessed to the commission of the offenses charged, and, the only defense in the case being that he committed the acts while insane, he entered a plea of "not guilty by reason of insanity" to both counts of the indictment. When the cause came on for trial, the prosecution rested its case upon the reading of the indictment and *474 the pleas of the defendant thereto. The defendant and the prosecution thereupon introduced evidence bearing on the subject, and there was submitted to the jury the sole question whether the defendant was sane or insane at the time the offenses were committed. The jury returned its verdicts, finding the defendant was sane. Motions for a new trial and in arrest of judgment were denied, and the court found and determined the crime of murder committed by the defendant to be "murder of the first degree without extenuating circumstances." Defendant was thereupon sentenced to be imprisoned in the state's prison for the term prescribed by law for the crime of kidnaping, and sentenced to pay the extreme penalty for the murder committed. He appeals from the judgments and from the orders denying the motions for new trial and in arrest of judgment.
[1] The important question presented by the appeal, and the one to be first considered, is raised by the contention of the defendant that, when he was forced to plead and to go to trial under the form of procedure now prescribed by the Penal Code of this state (secs. 1016 et seq.), relating to the kinds of pleas which may be entered to an indictment or information, and the procedure to be followed after the plea, he was deprived of his constitutional right to a trial by jury. He contends that by entering the plea on which he elected to stand, he denied his guilt as effectively as if he had entered a plea of "not guilty," and was therefore entitled to the trial guaranteed by the state constitution upon all the issues involved in the case, as well as upon the issue of his sanity. That, he contends, he was denied.
Appellant fails to grasp the full import of the present statute. Prior to 1927, there were four kinds of pleas open to a defendant, to wit: A plea of (1) guilty; (2) not guilty; (3) a former judgment of conviction or acquittal; and (4) once in jeopardy. (Pen. Code, sec. 1016.) The legislature, in 1927, added another, viz.: "(5) not guilty by reason of insanity," and further amended the code section by providing that "A defendant who does not plead guilty may enter one or more of the other pleas. A defendant who does not plead not guilty by reason of insanity shall be conclusively presumed to have been sane at the time of the commission of the offense charged, provided that the *475 court may for good cause shown allow a change of plea at any time before the commencement of the trial. A defendant who pleads not guilty by reason of insanity, without also pleading not guilty, thereby admits the commission of the offense charged." Section 1017 of the code was amended to provide that if the defendant plead "not guilty by reason of insanity," such plea shall be entered upon the minutes of the trial court substantially in the following form: "The defendant pleads that he is not guilty of the offense charged because he was insane at the time he is alleged to have committed the unlawful act." At the same time, there was added a new section (1026) to the Penal Code, in part reading as follows: "When a defendant pleads not guilty by reason of insanity, and also joins with it another plea or pleas, he shall first be tried as if he had entered such other plea or pleas only, and in such trial he shall be conclusively presumed to have been sane at the time the offense is alleged to have been committed. If the jury shall find the defendant guilty, or if the defendant pleads only not guilty by reason of insanity, then the question whether the defendant was sane or insane at the time the offense was committed shall be promptly tried, either before the same jury or before a new jury, in the discretion of the court. In such trial the jury shall return a verdict either that the defendant was sane at the time the offense was committed or that he was insane at the time the offense was committed. If the verdict or finding be that the defendant was sane at the time the offense was committed, the court shall sentence the defendant as provided by law." Then follow provisions not now material to this discussion as to the procedure to be followed if the verdict or finding of the jury be that the defendant was insane at the time the offense was committed. (Stats. 1927, pp. 1148-1150.)
[2] While the constitution of the state of California provides that the right of trial by jury shall be secured to all persons and shall remain inviolate (Const., art. I, sec. 7), the only right which it guarantees is that the citizens of the state shall have an opportunity to be tried by a jury, in cases in which it is exercised in the administration of justice according to the common law, as that law is understood in the several states of the Union. (People v. King,
The present statute was passed by the legislature on the recommendation of the commission for the reform of criminal procedure, created by the legislature in 1925 to make a study of the methods of criminal procedure, and to recommend such new system, or such amendments to the then existing system, as would in its opinion tend to provide for this state the most efficient system for the swift and certain administration of criminal justice. The purpose of the statute is to overcome some of the abuses which have crept into the administration of justice by reason of the frequent interposition of the defense of insanity in criminal prosecutions. Its provisions are plain, and we deem it unnecessary to enter into a critical analysis or restatement of its various features to show that every essential right of one charged with crime by indictment or information has been safeguarded, and that a defendant, by availing himself of its various provisions, and entering the proper plea or pleas, may interpose and submit to the consideration of the jury every issue and every defense that has heretofore been open to him. Under proper pleas he may still submit all the evidence he could submit before the effective date of the amended statute. It has always been the law in this jurisdiction, for instance, that upon a trial for murder, the commission of the homicide by the defendant being proved, the burden of proving circumstances of mitigation, or that justify or excuse it, devolves upon him, unless the proof on the part of the prosecution tends to show that the crime committed amounts only to manslaughter, or that the defendant was justified or excused. (Crim. Prac. Act 1850; Stats. 1850, p. 232, par. 37; Pen. Code, sec. 1105.) [3] A person charged with crime is presumed to be sane until the contrary is established by a preponderance of evidence. (People v. Williams,
We are firmly convinced that no right of the defendant guaranteed by the state constitution was injuriously or at all affected by his being compelled to proceed to trial under the sections of the code as recently amended. The statute gives, and he was accorded, a jury trial on the sole issue he desired to tender — in fact, the only issue under the evidence including his confession, which he could tender to the counts of the indictment. In concluding this phase of the discussion it may be said that the appellant thoroughly understood that in electing to stand upon the one plea of "not guilty by reason of insanity" he admitted the commission of the offenses charged against him. He was at the time of the arraignment, and at all times, represented by able counsel. Before permitting the pleas to be entered, the trial court assured itself that the defendant himself was well aware of the nature and effect of his voluntary action.
[5] Appellant further contends that the law under which he was tried violates the provisions of section one of the fourteenth amendment to the constitution of the United States (the "due process" and "equal protection" clause) relating to the powers of the several states. No federal question is here involved. [6] A state has full control over the procedure in its courts, both in civil and criminal cases, subject only to the qualification that such procedure must not work a denial of fundamental rights or conflict with specific and applicable provisions of the federal constitution. It is not tied down by any provision of the federal constitution to the practice and procedure which existed at common law. Subject to the limitations noted, it may avail itself of the wisdom gathered by experience to make such changes as may be necessary. (Brown v. NewJersey,
[10] The fact that the new law and procedure of the state of California may appear to mark a departure from the law and procedure relating to the same subject in other states has no place in this consideration. The "equal protection" provision of the federal constitution does not secure to all persons in the United States the benefit of the same *480
laws and the same remedies. Great diversities in these respects may exist in states separated only by imaginary lines. On one side of the line there may be a right to trial by jury, and on the other side, under like circumstances, there may be no such right. (Missouri v. Lewis,
Measured by these standards, we are satisfied that the statute under which the appellant was tried and convicted violates no provision of the federal constitution.
[11] Another contention of the appellant is that the trial below was conducted by a judge of the superior court who had no jurisdiction in the premises. The contention is without merit. The superior court of Los Angeles County is composed of thirty-eight regular and a number of extra sessions departments. It is therefore required by the constitution to have a presiding judge who, subject to the regulations of the judicial council, "shall distribute the business of the court among the judges and prescribe the order of business." (Const., art. VI, sec. 7.) When this cause came on for trial, objection was made to proceeding before the judge who had taken and entered the pleas, upon the ground that he was biased and prejudiced against the defendant. The judge filed a denial of bias or prejudice, but, upon the ground that he desired to avoid arresting the trial by a protracted hearing with reference to his qualifications, and in order that the cause might be heard and determined with the least possible delay, consented to retire from the case. The presiding judge thereupon made and caused to be entered an order that the trial proceed before another judge of the superior court, then sitting in the Los Angeles court under assignment by the chairman of the judicial council. The procedure followed was in strict accord with the terms of the constitutional provision, supra,
and with section 170 of the Code of Civil Procedure. *481
[12] It is next contended that the trial court erred in permitting the prosecution to exercise a peremptory challenge to a juror after the defendant had exhausted all of his peremptory challenges, and after challenge had been waived by him, and the prosecution was satisfied. It is also contended that further error was committed when the court refused to allow the defendant to exercise a peremptory challenge after permitting the state to do so, but after he had exhausted the number of peremptory challenges allowed by law. It does not appear that the prosecution was actually satisfied when twelve jurors had been passed before being sworn, or that it actually waived the right to exercise its peremptory challenges, even though the defendant might have been satisfied. The jurors had not been sworn, and the trial court was of the opinion — and the record supports its view — that the prosecution had not finally announced its satisfaction with the jurors, but had temporarily passed the challenge. Its allowance of the right of the prosecution to exercise a peremptory challenge under the circumstances was, therefore, at most but an irregularity not affecting, so far as we can ascertain from the record, any substantial right of the defendant. (People v. Majors,
[13] Complaint is made of the giving and refusing of certain instructions. After the jury was sworn to try the *482 cause, the trial court instructed the jurors that the sole issue for them to determine was the issue of whether the defendant was sane or insane at the time of the alleged commission of the acts charged in the indictment, and that further instructions would be given them later, after the testimony had been submitted, as to what is meant by the term "insanity" and as to the burden of proof in reference thereto. Under the present statute, the instruction was properly given. At the conclusion of the evidence, the defense submitted certain instructions which it requested the court to include in its final charge. They were refused. We have carefully considered the specifications of error (VI to XII, inclusive), dealing with that subject, and are convinced that the action of the court was proper. Certain of the rejected instructions relating to the insanity, or state of mind, of the defendant were sufficiently covered by the charge of the court to render there being given unnecessary. Other instructions as to what the defendant did or did not admit, in entering the plea "not guilty by reason of insanity," were contrary to the express provisions of the code sections (Pen. Code, secs. 1016 et seq., supra). Others, applicable if a plea of "not guilty" had also been joined, were not pertinent to the issue submitted to the jury. In view of what we have said concerning the other contentions raised by appellant, we are of opinion that the trial court properly and sufficiently instructed the jury on the issue of insanity tendered by the defendant's plea.
[14] The contention that the trial court had no right to determine the degree of the murder committed by the defendant, or fix the penalty therefor, is without merit. Section
[15] We find no error or abuse of discretion in the action of the trial court in refusing the request of counsel for the defense that it should be permitted to open and close the argument to the jury because the burden of establishing the insanity of the defendant rested upon him. The Penal Code provides (sec. 1093) that, a jury having been impaneled and sworn, the trial must proceed in the order *483
therein prescribed, unless otherwise directed by the court. One of the provisions of the section is that, unless the case is submitted to the jury on either side, or on both sides, without argument, the district attorney, or other counsel for the People, and counsel for the defendant, may argue the case; the district attorney, or other counsel for the People, opening the argument and having the right to close. Section
[16] Lastly, it is contended that the two judgments of conviction and sentence are void for the reason that each recites that the defendant "duly pleaded guilty" of the crime charged in the respective counts of the indictment. While, technically, the recitals are not in strict accord with the procedure followed, since the defendant did not actually enter the separate and distinct plea "guilty" as provided by the statute (Pen. Code, sec. 1016), the result of his action was an admission that he committed the offenses charged. In legal effect, therefore, the recitals state what actually took place. In any event, the objection goes to a mere irregularity which in no sense affects the substantial rights of the defendant. Each judgment refers to the crime with which the defendant was charged, and the appropriate count of the indictment under which he was arraigned and convicted by his own plea and the verdict of the jury as to his sanity. The penalty or sentence in each judgment is clearly and concisely stated. The judgments are, therefore, not void, and the situation is not one calling for a reversal.
No good purpose will be served by stating the substance of the evidence interposed by the defense, and met by the prosecution on the question of the sanity of the defendant at the time he committed the offenses charged. A number of witnesses testified, and much expert testimony was given on both sides of the question. The defendant did not offer himself as a witness, but the law which required his presence in court during his trial submitted him to the observation and scrutiny of the court and jury. (People v. Cornell,
By agreement of counsel, subject to objections on constitutional grounds reserved by the defendant, the testimony received and taken on the trial of the issue of insanity was considered with other evidence for the purpose of ascertaining and determining the degree of the murder committed by the defendant. It sustains to the fullest extent the finding of the trial court that the crime was murder of the first degree without extenuating circumstances.
The judgments of the trial court, and its orders denying the motion for a new trial and the motion in arrest of judgment, are, and each is, affirmed.
Curtis, J., Shenk, J., Preston, J., Tyler, J., pro tem., and Richards, J., concurred.
Rehearing denied.
All the Justices present concurred.
Appellant's application for leave to appeal to the supreme court of the United States was denied on October 1, 1928, and the following opinion then rendered thereon:
Addendum
William Edward Hickman, appellant, has filed with the Chief Justice an application to be allowed to appeal to the supreme court of the United States from the judgment and order of the supreme court of the state of California affirming his conviction of the crime of murder in the first degree, and imposing the death penalty, on the ground that the law under which he was tried and convicted (Pen. Code, secs. 1016, 1017, 1026, as amended in 1927, in so far as they apply to his case), violates certain provisions of the constitution of the United States. In the assignment of errors accompanying the petition, the appellant *485 renews the contentions he made in presenting the same points on the appeal from the judgment of the lower court.
After due consideration by this court of the contentions of the appellant and the arguments advanced in their support on the appeal, the court reached the conclusion that, in so far as the amended sections of the code, supra, applied to the case of the appellant, they violate no provision of the United States constitution. They provide for certain procedural steps to be taken in the trial of persons accused of crimes, and do not affect any substantive right of one entering only the plea of not guilty by reason of his insanity. (People v. Hickman, ante,
p. 470 [
Being of the view that no federal question properly presentable to the supreme court of the United States is involved, the appeal to that court is not allowed.