CRIMINAL LAW §110A & C
FALL, 2008
SYLLABUS
Professor Wallace Wade
Section A: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 11:00am-12:00 Noon Classroom 216
Section C: Thursday 6:30-9:45 pm Classroom 109
E-mail:
wwade@wsulaw.edu
Telephone:
949-283-4538 (cell)
Office Hours: Tuesdays: 9am-11am
Wednesday: Noon-1:30pm
Thursday: 9am-11am; 2:30-4pm; 5:30-6:00pm
Please sign up with the faculty secretary for regular office hours. As a courtesy to
other students, please do not sign up for a “block” of consecutive appointments.
Please put your email address and your telephone number on the appointment list,
so that I may contact you if I have to reschedule your appointment. Please contact
me directly via my cell phone call if you cannot make it to an appointment. If you
are running late to an appointment, call a faculty secretary and advise her.
Pam Halverson 714-459-1196;
Cindy Sickinger 714-459-1126;
Bonnie Manning 714-4591128;
Course Materials:
The following book is required:
Loewy, Criminal Law Cases and Materials 2nd Edition (Lexis Nexis)
The following materials are recommended for reference or purchase
Dressler: Understanding Criminal Law, 4th Edition (Lexis Publishing)
Levenson, The Glannon Guide to Criminal Law (Aspen Publishers)
Dressler: Sum & Substance Audio on Criminal Law, 4th with Summary Supplement
(MP3) (Audio CD) 7 CD Set
Page 1
COURSE OUTLINE
Section A
Aug.
21,26, 27
Section C Week # and Subjects to Discuss
Aug 21
Week 1a and 1b : Introduction,
Administrative Details, Introduction to
Criminal Law, Punishment, Legality,
Lenity, Fair Notice and Burden of Proof
and Presumptions
CHAPTER 1. PUNISHMENT 1
State v. Chaney, 477 P.2d 441 (Alaska
1970) 2
Leuch v. State, 633 P.2d 1006 (Alaska 1981)
7
Problem: Regina v. Jones, 115 Can. Crim.
Cas. Ann. 273 (1956) 14
CHAPTER 22. FAIR NOTICE 787
Keeler v. Superior Court, 470 P.2d 617
(Cal. 1970) 787
People v. Hall, 557 N.Y.S.2d 879 (N.Y.
App. Div. 1990) 793
Papachristou v. Jacksonville, 405 U.S. 156
(1972) 797
Kolender v. Lawson, 461 U.S. 352 (1983)
801
Chicago v. Morales, 119 S. Ct. 1849 (1999)
803
Problem 820
CHAPTER 16. BURDEN OF PROOF
AND PRESUMPTIONS 601
A. Burden of Proof 601
In re Winship, 397 U.S. 358 (1970) 601
Victor v. Nebraska, 511 U.S. 1 (1994) 604
B. Shifting the Burden 621
Patterson v. New York, 432 U.S. 197 (1977)
621
Martin v. Ohio, 480 U.S. 228 (1987) 628
C. Presumptions 633
Sandstrom v. Montana, 442 U.S. 510 (1979)
633
Montana v. Egelhoff, 518 U.S. 37 (1996)
635
Page 2
Pages
Chapters
1-15,
1 + 22 + 16
782-822,
601-638.
Cases
13
Section A
Aug. 28
Sept 2,3
Section C Week # and Subjects to Discuss
Aug 28
Week 2 : Actus Reus; Mens Rea
CHAPTER 9. ACTUS REUS 403
A. In General 403
Robinson v. California, 370 U.S. 660 (1962)
404
Powell v. Texas, 392 U.S. 514 (1968) 405
State v. Baker, 571 P.2d 65 (Kan. App.
1977) 409
State v. Hinkle, 489 S.E.2d 257 (W. Va.
1996) 413
Problem 419
People v. Decina, 138 N.E.2d 799 (N.Y.
1956) 420
B. Failure to Act 424
Jones v. United States, 308 F.2d 307 (D.C.
Cir. 1962) 424
Davis v. Commonwealth, 335 S.E.2d 375
(Va. 1985) 427
Commonwealth v. Cali, 141 N.E. 510
(Mass. 1923) 429
Problem 430
CHAPTER 8. MENS REA 311
A. In General 311
Morissette v. United States, 342 U.S. 246
(1952) 311
Regina v. Pembliton, 12 Cox Crim. Cas. 607
(Cr. App. 1874) 318
United States v. Jewell, 532 F.2d 697 (9th
Cir. 1976) 320
B. Liability Without Fault 326
Morissette v. United States, 342 U.S. 246
(1952) 326
State v. Campbell, 691 N.E.2d 711 (Ohio
App. 2d Dist. 1997) 328
Problem: United States v. Park, 421 U.S.
658 (1975) 334
State v. Guminga, 395 N.W.2d 344 (Minn.
1986) 337
Garnett v. State, 632 A.2d 797 (Md. 1993)
341
Page 3
Pages
403432;
311-357
Chapters
9 + 8 (AB)
Cases
15
Section A
Sept. 4, 9,
10
Section C Week # and Subjects to Discuss
Sept 4
Week 3: Mistake of Law; Mistake of
Fact; Intoxication
C. Mistake of Fact 357
D.P.P. v. Morgan, 2 All E.R. 365 (1975)
357
United States v. Short, 4 U.S.M.C.A. 437
(1954) 360
D. Mistake of Law 364
People v. Marrero, 507 N.E.2d 1068 (N.Y.
1987) 364
Lambert v. California, 355 U.S. 225 (1957)
374
E. Mistake of Law and Willfulness: A
Lesson in Statutory Interpretation 378
Cheek v. United States, 498 U.S. 192 (1991)
378
Ratzlaf v. United States, 510 U.S. 135
(1994) 386
Bryan v. United States, 524 U.S. 184 (1998)
394
CHAPTER 10. INTOXICATION 433
State v. Coates, 735 P.2d 64 (Wash. 1987)
433
State v. Cameron, 514 A.2d 1302 (N.J.
1986) 437
People v. Register, 457 N.E.2d 704 (N.Y.
1983) 443
Montana v. Egelhoff, 518 U.S. 37 (1996)
448
Page 4
Pages
357402;
433-462
Chapters
8 (CDE) +
10
Cases
11
Section A
Sept
11,16,17
Section C Week # and Subjects to Discuss
Sept. 11 Week 4:Homicide
CHAPTER 2. HOMICIDE 15
A. Premeditation 15
State v. Ollens, 733 P.2d 984 (Wash. 1987)
16
State v. Johnson, 344 S.E.2d 775 (N.C
1986) 21
B. Heat of Passion 27
Girouard v. State, 583 A.2d 718 (Md. 1989)
27
Freddo v. State, 155 S.W. 170 (Tenn. 1913)
31
State v. Thornton, 730 S.W.2d 309 (Tenn.
1987) 34
People v. Berry, 556 P.2d 777 (Cal. 1976)
42
People v. Casassa, 404 N.E.2d 1310 (N.Y.
1980) 45
Problem: State v. Forrest, 362 S.E.2d 252
(N.C. 1987) 51
C. Assisted Suicide 53
People v. Kevorkian, 527 N.W.2d 714
(Mich. 1994) 53
Problem: In re Joseph G., 667 P.2d 1176
(Cal. 1983) 65
D. Unintentional Killings 67
State v. Salz, 627 A.2d 862 (Conn. 1993) 67
Commonwealth v. Welansky, 55 N.E.2d 902
(Mass. 1944) 75
Porter v. State, 88 So. 2d 924 (Fla. 1956) 77
State v. Williams, 484 P.2d 1167 (Wash.
App. 1971) 80
Pages
15-84
Chapters
2 (ABCD)
Cases
14
Sept 18,
23,24
Sept 18
84-154
2 (EF) + 3
14
Week 5:Homicide continued; Causation
E. Depraved Heart Murder 84
Essex v. Commonwealth, 322 S.E.2d 216
(Va. 1984) 84
Page 5
Section A
Section C Week # and Subjects to Discuss
Pages
Pears v. State, 672 P.2d 903 (Alaska App.
1983) 89
Northington v. State, 413 So. 2d 1169 (Ala.
App. 1981) 95
Commonwealth v. Malone, 47 A.2d 445 (Pa.
1946) 97
Problem: Berry v. Superior Court, 256 Cal.
Rptr. 344 (1989) 99
F. Felony-Murder 102
People v. Gladman, 359 N.E.2d 420 (N.Y.
1976) 102
People v. Phillips, 414 P.2d 353 (Cal. 1966)
106
People v. Sears, 465 P.2d 847 (Cal. 1970)
111
Problem: State v. Jones, 516 S.E.2d 405
(N.C. App. 1999) 116
People v. Dekens, 695 N.E.2d 474 (Ill.
1998) 119
People v. Aaron, 299 N.W.2d 304 (Mich.
1979) 126
State v. Ervin, 577 A.2d 1273 (N.J. Super.
A.D. 1990) 128
CHAPTER 3. CAUSATION 133
A. Intentional Killings 133
People v. Brackett, 510 N.E.2d 877 (Ill.
1987) 133
Problem 138
B. Unintentional Killings 140
People v. Russell, 693 N.E.2d 193 (N.Y.
1998) 140
State v. McFadden, 320 N.W.2d 608 (Iowa
1982) 142
State v. Caibaiosai, 363 N.W.2d 574 (Wis.
1985) 149
Problem 154
Page 6
Chapters
Cases
Section A
Sept 25,
30, Oct 1
Section C Week # and Subjects to Discuss
Sept 25
Week 6:Justification Defenses: Self
Defense Complicity
CHAPTER 6. SELF-DEFENSE 207
A. In General 207
State v. Schroeder, 261 N.W.2d 759 (Neb.
1978) 207
State v. Norman, 378 S.E.2d 8 (N.C. 1989)
211
B. Retreat Rule 224
People v. Russell, 693 N.E.2d 193 (N.Y.
1998) 224
Weiand v. State, 24 Fla. L. Weekly S124
(1999) 224
C. Defense of Others 234
People v. Young, 183 N.E.2d 319 (N.Y.
1962) 234
D. Imperfect Self-Defense 237
Shuck v. State, 349 A.2d 378 (Md. App.
1975) 237
E. Resisting Arrest 240
People v. Curtis, 450 P.2d 33 (Cal. 1962)
240
F. Crime Prevention 244
Tennessee v. Garner, 471 U.S. 1 (1985) 244
State v. Clothier, 753 P.2d 1267 (Kan.
1988) 253
United States v. Hillsman, 522 F.2d 454 (7th
Cir. 1975) 256
Problem: People v. Goetz, 497 N.E.2d 41
(N.Y. 1986) 258
CHAPTER 18. COMPLICITY 681
A. Actus Reus 681
Bailey v. United States, 416 F.2d 1110 (D.C.
Cir. 1969) 681
B. Mens Rea (Intentional Crimes) 687
People v. Beeman, 674 P.2d 1318 (Cal.
1984) 687
United States v. Fountain, 768 F.2d 790 (7th
Cir. 1985) 693
People v. Kessler, 315 N.E.2d 29 (Ill. 1974)
696
Page 7
Pages
207260;
681-708
Chapters
6 + 18
(AB)
Cases
14
Section A
Oct 2,7, 8
Section C Week # and Subjects to Discuss
Oct 2
Week 7:Complicity continued; Theft
C. Mens Rea (Unintentional Crimes) 702
State v. McVay, 132 A. 439 (R.I. 1926) 702
People v. Marshall, 106 N.W.2d 842 (Mich.
1961) 704
D. Relationship to Principal's Liability
706
Pendry v. State, 367 A.2d 627 (Del. 1976)
706
Problem: Regina v. Richards, 1976 Q.B.
776 (1973) 707
CHAPTER 7. THEFT 261
A. Larceny 261
Topolewski v. State, 109 N.W. 1037 (Wis.
1906) 261
United States v. Pruitt, 446 F.2d 513 (6th
Cir. 1971) 264
United States v. Rogers, 289 F.2d 433 (4th
Cir. 1961) 265
Blackburn v. Commonwealth, 89 S.W. 160
(Ky. 1905) 267
People v. Butler, 421 P.2d 703 (Cal. 1967)
269
E. Robbery 287
People v. Patton, 389 N.E.2d 1174 (Ill.
1979) 287
People v. Baskerville, 457 N.E.2d 752 (N.Y.
1983) 289
F. Extortion 292
State v. Harrington, 260 A.2d 692 (Vt.
1970) 292
G. Burglary 297
People v. Davis, 958 P.2d 1083 (Cal. 1998)
297
Pages
261272;
287310;
Chapters
18 (CD) +7
(AEFG)
REVIEW FOR MID TERM
Oct 9
MID-TERM EXAMINATION
Page 8
Tentative
Cases
11
Section A
Oct 14, 15
Oct 16,
21,22
Section C Week # and Subjects to Discuss
Oct. 9
Week 8:Theft; Corporate Criminal
Liability
B. Embezzlement 272
People v. Riggins, 132 N.E.2d 519 (Ill.
1956) 272
Commonwealth v. Mitchneck, 198 A. 463
(Pa. Super. Ct. 1938) 275
C. False Pretenses 277
People v. Ashley, 267 P.2d 271 (Cal. 1954)
277
Nelson v. United States, 227 F.2d 21 (D.C.
Cir. 1955) 281
D. Receiving Stolen Property 285
Commonwealth v. Baker, 175 A. 438 (Pa.
Super. Ct. 1934) 285
CHAPTER 21. CORPORATE
CRIMINAL LIABILITY 769
State v. Christy Pontiac-GMC, Inc., 354
N.W.2d 17 (Minn. 1984) 769
State v. Richard Knutson, Inc., 537 N.W.2d
420 (Wis. Ct. App. 1995) 773
United States v. Cincotta, 689 F.2d 238 (1st
Cir. 1982) 782
Oct 16
Week 9:Attempt; Assault
CHAPTER 17. ATTEMPT 639
A. Mens Rea 639
Smallwood v. State, 680 A.2d 512 (Md.
1996) 640
People v. Thomas, 729 P.2d 972 (Colo.
1986) 644
State v. Stewart, 420 N.W.2d 44 (Wis.
1988) 649
B. Actus Reus 652
People v. Rizzo, 158 N.E. 888 (N.Y. 1927)
652
McQuirter v. State, 63 So. 2d 388 (Ala.
App. 1953) 654
State v. Stewart, 420 N.W.2d 44 (Wis.
1988) 657
Page 9
Pages
272287;
768-786
Chapters
7 (BCD) +
21
Cases
8
639680;
155-164
17 + 4
13
Section A
Oct 23,
28, 29
Section C Week # and Subjects to Discuss
Pages
United States v. Still, 850 F.2d 607 (9th Cir.
1988) 660
State v. Davis, 6 S.W.2d 609 (Mo. 1928)
662
C. Abandonment 667
State v. Gartlan, 512 S.E.2d 74 (N.C. App.
1999) 667
People v. Johnson, 750 P.2d 72 (Colo. App.
1987) 669
Problem: Wormsley v. United States, 526
A.2d 1373 (D.C. App. 1987) 670
D. Impossibility 673
Booth v. State, 398 P.2d 863 (Okla. Ct. App.
1964) 673
Problem 680
CHAPTER 4. ASSAULT AND
KIDNAPPING 155
A. Assault 155
Harrod v. State, 499 A.2d 959 (Md. App.
1985) 155
B. Kidnapping 160
State v. Beatty, 495 S.E.2d 367 (N.C. 1998)
160
Oct 23
463-508
Week 10:Infancy, Duress and Necessity
CHAPTER 11. INFANCY 463
J.F.B. v. State, 729 So. 2d 355 (Ala. Crim.
App. 1998) 463
Maddox v. State, 931 S.W.2d 438 (Ark.
1996) 465
Butler v. State, 922 S.W.2d 685 (Ark. 1996)
468
Commonwealth v. Kocher, 602 A.2d 1308
(Pa. 1992) 470
CHAPTER 12. DURESS AND
NECESSITY 477
A. Duress 477
People v. Carradine, 287 N.E.2d 670 (Ill.
1972) 477
State v. Toscano, 378 A.2d 755 (N.J. 1977)
479
Page 10
Chapters
Cases
11 + 12
11
Section A
Section C Week # and Subjects to Discuss
Pages
State v. Tuttle, 730 P.2d 630 (Utah 1986)
486
Problem: United States v. Contento-Pachon,
723 F.2d 691 (9th Cir. 1984) 489
B. Necessity 491
People v. Archer, 537 N.Y.S.2d 726 (City
Ct. Rochester 1988) 491
Gerlach v. State, 699 P.2d 358 (Alaska App.
1985) 497
State v. Tate, 505 A.2d 941 (N.J. 1986) 500
People v. Blake, 522 N.E.2d 822 (Ill. App.
1988) 504
Problem: Regina v. Dudley and Stephens, 15
Cox Crim. Cas. 624 (Q.B. 1884) 507
Chapters
Cases
Oct 30,
Nov.4, 5
Oct 30
19 + 13
14
Week 11:Conspiracy; Entrapment
CHAPTER 19. CONSPIRACY 709
A. The Agreement 709
Regle v. State, 264 A.2d 119 (Md. App.
1970) 709
State v. Kihnel, 488 So. 2d 1238 (La. App.
1986) 712
Gebardi v. United States, 287 U.S. 112
(1932) 715
People v. Macklowitz, 514 N.Y.S.2d 883
(N.Y. Sup. Ct. 1987) 719
B. Mens Rea 724
United States v. Feola, 420 U.S. 671 (1975)
724
People v. Lauria, 59 Cal. Rptr. 628 (Cal.
App. 1967) 727
United States v. Brown, 776 F.2d 397 (2d
Cir. 1985) 733
C. Conspiracy and Complicity 738
Pinkerton v. United States, 328 U.S. 640
(1946) 738
D. Withdrawal 742
United States v. Read, 658 F.2d 1225 (7th
Cir. 1981) 742
Page 11
709752;
509-532
Section A
Section C Week # and Subjects to Discuss
Pages
E. Procedural Peculiarities 746
Krulewitch v. United States, 336 U.S. 440
(1949) 746
CHAPTER 13. ENTRAPMENT 509
Sherman v. United States, 356 U.S. 369
(1958) 509
Jacobson v. United States, 503 U.S. 540
(1992) 515
State v. Powell, 726 P.2d 266 (Haw. 1986)
525
United States v. Gamble, 737 F.2d 853 (10th
Cir. 1984) 527
Chapters
Cases
Nov. 6,
11,12
Nov 6
165-206
Week 12:Rape
CHAPTER 5. RAPE 165
A. The Traditional View 165
State v. Rusk, 424 A.2d 720 (Md. 1981) 165
B. Legislative Reform 176
Commonwealth v. Berkowitz, 641 A.2d
1161 (Pa. 1994) 176
State of New Jersey in the Interest of M.T.S.,
609 A.2d 1266 (N.J. 1992) 180
C. Undue Influence 192
State v. Thompson, 792 P.2d 1103 (Mont.
1990) 192
D. Fraud 196
Boro v. Superior Court, 210 Cal. Rptr. 122
(Cal. App. 1985) 196
E. Juridical Limitations 201
People v. Liberta, 474 N.E.2d 567 (N.Y.
1984) 201
Problem 205
Problem 206
5
6
Nov. 13,
18, 19
Nov. 13
Week 13:Insanity
CHAPTER 14. INSANITY 533
United States v. Lyons, 731 F.2d 243, 739
F.2d 994 (5th Cir. 1984) 534
State v. Cameron, 674 P.2d 650 (Wash.
1983) 539
14
4
Page 12
533-572
Section A
Section C Week # and Subjects to Discuss
Problem: State v. Jones, 920 P.2d 225
(Wash. App. Div. 3 1996) 545
State v. Herrera, 895 P.2d 359 (Utah 1995)
545
Problem: People v. Wetmore, 583 P.2d 1308
(Cal. 1978) 567
Ford v. Wainwright, 477 U.S. 399 (1986)
568
Problem 572
Nov. 20,
Nov 20
25, 26
Nov 27-Dec. 2
Dec. 3-16
Pages
Chapters
Cases
Week 14:Catch Up and Review for Final
Exam.
READING PERIOD (NO CLASSES)
FINAL EXAM (Dates to be
Announced)
Course Expectations and Grading:
Attendance:
Roll is taken each class day by distribution of a roll sheet. Western State Law School Rules
(Student Handbook Section 5.12) provide that attendance under 85% of scheduled classes during
a semester will result in a failing grade absent extenuating circumstances. These rules are
enforced in this class. A student who is tardy may receive an absence at the discretion of the
professor. Students are expected to budget their time to allow prompt arrival in class. (Judges,
employers, clients, opposing counsel and law professors are generally intolerant of tardiness.) If
you know you will be tardy or absent, advise me by email with the reasons for the tardiness or
absence BEFORE class if possible. (See Student Handbook Section 5.13)
Preparation and Class Participation:
Students are expected to have carefully read and briefed all cases scheduled for discussion in
class. Each student should be prepared to be called upon in class to summarize the pertinent
facts, issues, law and court findings and rulings of a case. Students are encouraged to ask
questions. Students who have not prepared will not successfully participate in class .and may not
receive credit for attendance in the discretion of the professor. Participation is a component of the
grade in this course. (See below, Grading)
Page 13
Office Hours and Extracurricular Participation:
Students are strongly encouraged at Western State to take advantage of professor’s office hours.
For full-time students, participation in office hours is a factor considered in the student’s
participation grade. The opportunity exists for students to participate in the Criminal Law
Association and to attend lectures sponsored by the Criminal Law Practice Center. Participation
in these activities is a factor considered in the student’s participation grade.
Ethics:
Ethics is of paramount importance in the study and practice of law and particularly so in criminal
prosecution and defense where the safety of society and the liberty of the accused are always at
issue. Students should be familiar with the Honor Code of Western State University College of
Law , which may be found at Chapter 11 of the Student Handbook. Any violation of law school
rules and regulations relating to cheating, plagiarism, or other ethical matters addressed in the
Honor Code will be vigorously enforced.
Practice Exams:
Students are encouraged to take practice exams that will be posted on the class website. You may
discuss your answers to practice exams with me at office hours. It would be helpful if prior to
office hours you would email me a copy of the practice exam question and your exam, prior to
our office hours meeting.
GRADING:
Student’s final grade will be based on the following:
Midterm Examination
Participation
Final Examination
Quizzes
25%
10%
60-65%
0- 5%
Examinations:
Examinations will be a combination of multiple-choice questions and essay questions. The midterm examination will be 1 hour in length. The final examination will be 3 hours in length.
Page 14