Statutory Interp
"tickles edge of Void for Vagueness"
1. Words clear? Stop
2. Not clear? take constitutional meaning, and/or search legislative intent
1. Words clear? Stop
2. Not clear? take constitutional meaning, and/or search legislative intent
Tags: Legality
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Void for Vagueness
1. statutory clarity (what does "annoy" mean?)
2. overbreadth (sweeps in innocent behavior)
limiting construction, or legislative intent
3. undue discretion for law enforcement
2. overbreadth (sweeps in innocent behavior)
limiting construction, or legislative intent
3. undue discretion for law enforcement
Tags: Legality
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Actus Reus
1. Bodily movement that is a product of the effort or determination of the actor, either conscious or habitual
2. time framing
3. Omissions count only if duty, but people must have capacity to act, omission must be blameworthy, status is not an act
DUTY
1. special relationship
2. contractual relationship
3. statutory duty
4. omission following an act of creating harm or assuming care
2. time framing
3. Omissions count only if duty, but people must have capacity to act, omission must be blameworthy, status is not an act
DUTY
1. special relationship
2. contractual relationship
3. statutory duty
4. omission following an act of creating harm or assuming care
Tags: Basic Elements
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Mens Rea
1. purpose
2. knowing
3. reckless
4. negligent (higher standard than torts)
If none listed, at least reckless
If one listed, per MPC applies to all circ.; per common law applies only to main one and look at legis intent
2. knowing
3. reckless
4. negligent (higher standard than torts)
If none listed, at least reckless
If one listed, per MPC applies to all circ.; per common law applies only to main one and look at legis intent
Tags: Basic Elements
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But for Cause
But for D's act, would victim have died when he did?
Also, concurrent sufficient, acceleration, concurrent insufficient
Also, concurrent sufficient, acceleration, concurrent insufficient
Tags: Basic Elements
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Proximate Cause
LaFave/Scott foreseeability test:
Coincidental? Foreseeable
Responsive? Not abnormal
Remember also if there is an omission w/ duty, may be superceding intervening cause.
Apparent safety
Free deliberate informed human intervention
Coincidental? Foreseeable
Responsive? Not abnormal
Remember also if there is an omission w/ duty, may be superceding intervening cause.
Apparent safety
Free deliberate informed human intervention
Tags: Basic Elements
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Premed Delib Murder
Willful - specific intent to kill
Deliberate - weighed reasons for and against the action and considered the consequences
Premeditated - thought about beforehand - could be as quick as the blink of an eye, or require a second look. Forrest factors.
Forrest Factors:
1. previous ill-will between the parties
2. want of provocation
3. any statements of the defendant up to and during the crime
4. the brutality of the killing, nature and number of wounds
5. the degree of planning and in the manner in which the killing was performed
Deliberate - weighed reasons for and against the action and considered the consequences
Premeditated - thought about beforehand - could be as quick as the blink of an eye, or require a second look. Forrest factors.
Forrest Factors:
1. previous ill-will between the parties
2. want of provocation
3. any statements of the defendant up to and during the crime
4. the brutality of the killing, nature and number of wounds
5. the degree of planning and in the manner in which the killing was performed
Tags: Homicide
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Felony Murder
Killing proximately caused in perpetration or attempt of felony
Limitations:
1. Inherently dangerous, in fact or abstract (DEATH only)
2. killing by non-felons: either agency thy (only co-felon killings) or if felon set in motion acts by which killing occurred, can have felony murder for killing by non-felon
3. Res Gestae, which requires but-for and proximate causal connection between felonious acts and death (reasonable foreseeability)
Limitations:
1. Inherently dangerous, in fact or abstract (DEATH only)
2. killing by non-felons: either agency thy (only co-felon killings) or if felon set in motion acts by which killing occurred, can have felony murder for killing by non-felon
3. Res Gestae, which requires but-for and proximate causal connection between felonious acts and death (reasonable foreseeability)
Tags: Homicide
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Voluntary MS
Common law = heat of passion, adequate provocation, no opportunity to cool. Must be calculated to inflame the passion of a reasonable man in actor's situation and cause him to act from passion rather than reason.
MPC = EMED for which there is reasonable explanation or excuse. Looks for reason for emotion, not the act, so kinder to Ds.
OR
Reckless manslaughter - aware of and disregarded a substantial and unjustifiable risk of death
MPC = EMED for which there is reasonable explanation or excuse. Looks for reason for emotion, not the act, so kinder to Ds.
OR
Reckless manslaughter - aware of and disregarded a substantial and unjustifiable risk of death
Tags: Homicide
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Extreme Recklessness Murder
Reckless plus extreme indifference to value of human life.
Reckless = aware of and disregarded a substantial and unjustifiable risk of death
Extreme indifference = high probability of death or serious bodily injury occurring as a result of the conduct
Reckless = aware of and disregarded a substantial and unjustifiable risk of death
Extreme indifference = high probability of death or serious bodily injury occurring as a result of the conduct
Tags: Homicide
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Negligent or Invol. MS
He was not aware, but would a reasonable person be aware of substantial and unjustifiable risk of death? Gross deviation from normal behavior.
Tags: Homicide
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Alston
Force is physical only, and must happen at time of incident
Blocked path into school, grabbed arm and said "You're going with me." Eventually let her go, said she would walk w/him and didn't run away b/c afraid. Threatened to fix her face. Told her she wouldn't be going to school. Said if they were breaking up he had a right to make love to her again. Headed to house of friend of D to do it, she went with, did not ask for help b/c D's friends. Asked if she was ready and she said no. Did not physically resist, but cried.
Not rape, the "fix your face" and arm grabbing were not related to rape. She did not consent, but there was no force.
Blocked path into school, grabbed arm and said "You're going with me." Eventually let her go, said she would walk w/him and didn't run away b/c afraid. Threatened to fix her face. Told her she wouldn't be going to school. Said if they were breaking up he had a right to make love to her again. Headed to house of friend of D to do it, she went with, did not ask for help b/c D's friends. Asked if she was ready and she said no. Did not physically resist, but cried.
Not rape, the "fix your face" and arm grabbing were not related to rape. She did not consent, but there was no force.
Tags: Rape
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Rusk
Physical force with resistance.
Agreed to give newly met rapist a ride home from bar. She refused to come up to apt. Refused a few times, became afraid, he took her keys and opened her door. "If I do what you want will you not kill me?" Lightly choked her. Not rape b/c no resistance.
Second Appeal
Overturned, jury had right to decide based on testimony
Agreed to give newly met rapist a ride home from bar. She refused to come up to apt. Refused a few times, became afraid, he took her keys and opened her door. "If I do what you want will you not kill me?" Lightly choked her. Not rape b/c no resistance.
Second Appeal
Overturned, jury had right to decide based on testimony
Tags: Rape
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Berkowitz
Force is physical force or mental if unequal position.
Dorm room. Talking, straddled her and fondled, tried to put his penis in her mouth. She said no, I gotta go. Rapist locked door. Put her on the bed, took off her pants, raped her, she said no no no. Rapist said we got carried away, she said no you got carried away. Force must be physical, or if mental must have unequal positioning of the parties. Age, mental and physical conditions, atmosphere of physical setting, if rapist was in position of authority, etc.
Dorm room. Talking, straddled her and fondled, tried to put his penis in her mouth. She said no, I gotta go. Rapist locked door. Put her on the bed, took off her pants, raped her, she said no no no. Rapist said we got carried away, she said no you got carried away. Force must be physical, or if mental must have unequal positioning of the parties. Age, mental and physical conditions, atmosphere of physical setting, if rapist was in position of authority, etc.
Tags: Rape
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MTS
Force of sexual act can be enough force; affirmative, freely given consent.
Teenager went to friend's room in middle of night and made out with her, sex before she knew what was happening, hopped right off.
Teenager went to friend's room in middle of night and made out with her, sex before she knew what was happening, hopped right off.
Tags: Rape
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Tags: Attempt
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Actus Reus of attempt - 9
1. Present intent - changes mind on his own, no present intent.
2. physical proximity - physically near to completion
3. dangerous proximity - dangerously near to completion
4. unequivocality/silent movie - actor's conduct manifests intent to commit crime
5. substantial step - strongly corroborative of actor's criminal purpose, i.e. lying in wait, enticing vic to place, reconnoitering, unlawful entry, possession of materials, soliciting innocent agent
(6. indispensable element - if you still need something, not attempt
7. probable desistance - would person probably not go through
8. abnormal step - step going beyond point where normal citizen would go
9. Stokes - intent plus any small act
Also, don't forget abandonment
2. physical proximity - physically near to completion
3. dangerous proximity - dangerously near to completion
4. unequivocality/silent movie - actor's conduct manifests intent to commit crime
5. substantial step - strongly corroborative of actor's criminal purpose, i.e. lying in wait, enticing vic to place, reconnoitering, unlawful entry, possession of materials, soliciting innocent agent
(6. indispensable element - if you still need something, not attempt
7. probable desistance - would person probably not go through
8. abnormal step - step going beyond point where normal citizen would go
9. Stokes - intent plus any small act
Also, don't forget abandonment
Tags: Attempt
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Incomplete v. Complete
Don't get to last act v. do get to last act but don't get result
Tags: Attempt
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Impossibility
Factual - no defense, mistake about facts of attendant circ., lucky, live victim in being
Hybrid Legal - defense, mistake about legal status of factor, dumbass, no live victim in being
Pure Legal - think you're committing a crime but not
Inherent - couldn't possibly succeed
Hybrid Legal - defense, mistake about legal status of factor, dumbass, no live victim in being
Pure Legal - think you're committing a crime but not
Inherent - couldn't possibly succeed
Tags: Attempt
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Accomplice Elements
1 - Principal from whom can derive liability, has to commit crime or attempt (MPC says ok if no principal but you think committing crime)
2. mens rea
3. actus reus
2. mens rea
3. actus reus
Tags: Accomplice
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Accomplice Mens Rea
1 - intent to assist primary in conduct constituting offense
2 - w/mens rea required for committing offense
2 - w/mens rea required for committing offense
Tags: Accomplice
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Accomplice Actus Reus
Aid, encouragement, assistance:
1 - physical conduct
2 - psychological influence
3 - omission if duty
*mere presence and knowledge not enough
Common law - have to help
MPC - think you're helping, enough
1 - physical conduct
2 - psychological influence
3 - omission if duty
*mere presence and knowledge not enough
Common law - have to help
MPC - think you're helping, enough
Tags: Accomplice
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Natural and Prob. Consequences
If accomplice to one crime and addt'l crimes reasonably foreseeable, guilty of those, too.
Tags: Accomplice
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Abandonment
Harder for accomplice than primary!
Must renounce, wholly deprive assistance of its effectiveness or warn law enforcement
Must renounce, wholly deprive assistance of its effectiveness or warn law enforcement
Tags: Accomplice
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Self Defense
(1) Reasonable and good faith belief (2) faced with imminent deadly force (3) deadly force is a necessary response
Retreat required in some states, except from home and yard.
May get imperfect if your belief was good faith but not reasonable.
Retreat required in some states, except from home and yard.
May get imperfect if your belief was good faith but not reasonable.
Tags: Defenses
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Self Defense, First Aggressor
Deadly first aggressor (affirmative unlawful act for purpose of causing deadly affray) loses right of self defense unless successfully communicates desire to withdraw and withdraws.
Non Deadly first aggressor - some allow self defense, others don't.
Sometimes get imperfect self defense (VM) if you were a non-deadly first aggressor who did not attempt retreat in a retreat jurisdiction, or respond to non-deadly force with deadly force.
Non Deadly first aggressor - some allow self defense, others don't.
Sometimes get imperfect self defense (VM) if you were a non-deadly first aggressor who did not attempt retreat in a retreat jurisdiction, or respond to non-deadly force with deadly force.
Tags: Self Defense
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Self Defense, Transferred Intent
A = first deadly aggressor
B fires at A, misses and kills innocent bystander.
Could (1) give B reckless manslaughter, (2) give B nothing, (3) give A reckless murder or manslaughter b/c of Kibbe test (responsive, not abnormal)
B fires at A, misses and kills innocent bystander.
Could (1) give B reckless manslaughter, (2) give B nothing, (3) give A reckless murder or manslaughter b/c of Kibbe test (responsive, not abnormal)
Tags: Self Defense
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Flashcard set info:
Author: stgillian
Main topic: Law
Topic: Criminal Law
Published: 26.03.2010
Tags: Cases
Card tags:
All cards (28)
Accomplice (5)
Attempt (4)
Basic Elements (4)
Defenses (1)
Homicide (5)
Legality (2)
Rape (4)
Self Defense (2)
Topics (1)