Court: |
US Supreme Court |
|
Facts: |
Sandstrom killed a woman; not too many facts in the opinion. But he
claims his mental state precluded doing so "purposely or knowingly." |
|
Posture: |
Convicted at trial, affirmed by Montana Supreme Court. |
|
Issue: |
If intent is an element of a crime, does the jury intruction, "the
law presumes that a person intends the ordinary consequences of his
voluntary acts," prejudice the defense in a way that violates the
14th Amendment requirement for proof beyond reasonable doubt? |
|
Holding: |
Yes. Reversed. |
|
Rule: |
This kind of language shifts both the burden of production and
the burden of persuasion. That is not allowed. |
|
Reasoning: |
The Montana Supreme Court is the final authority on Montana law,
but not on what is constitutional. |
|
Dicta: |
Rhenquist concurs, even though he doesn't want to see the Supreme
Court get bogged down in arguments about jury instructions. |