COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY V. ALBERT RAY DURHAM, SR.
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TO BE P
LISHED
?Y
COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY
V.
CERTIFICATION OF THE LAW FROM
BELL CIRCUIT COURT
INDICTMENT NO. 97-CR-0077
APPELLEE
ALBERT RAY DURHAM, SR.
OPINION OF THE COURT BY JUSTICE KELLER
CERTIFYING THE LAW
Albert Ray Durham, Sr. was accused of firing numerous shots into an occupied
trailer and injuring two (2) of the seven (7) persons inside. The Bell County Grand Jury
returned an indictment against Durham charging him with two (2) counts of First-Degree
Assault and five (5) counts of First-Degree Wanton Endangerment. Durham entered a
plea of not guilty and the case was tried to a jury in the Bell Circuit Court.
At the conclusion of the evidence and over the Commonwealth’s objection,’ the
trial court submitted the case to the jury upon written interrogatories which required the
‘In addition to their objections to the trial court’s instructions, the Commonwealth
tendered jury instructions patterned after specimen instructions set forth in 1 Cooper,
Kentucky Instructions to Juries (Criminal) §§ 3.37 (First-degree assault; intentional or
wanton; deadly weapon), 3.40 (Second-degree assault; intentional and physical injury;
deadly weapon); 3.55 (Fourth-degree assault; intentional or wanton); 3.58 (First-degree
wanton endangerment); 3.59 (Second-degree wanton endangerment); & 3.60
(Menacing) (4’h ed. 1993) (hereinafter “Cooper”). Durham accepted the trial court’s
instructions.
jury to make certain factual findings but did not require the jury to return a traditional
verdict2 indicating whether it found the defendant guilty or not guilty. The first written
interrogatory read:
I
Do you find from the evidence beyond a reasonable
doubt that Albert Durham, Sr., at the time and place,
and on the occasion, fired shots into the trailer of
Gene Miller?
ANSWER: Yes
No
FOREPERSON
If your answer was No, return to Courtroom.3
2From a review of reported Kentucky decisions and texts on instructions in
criminal cases, the guilt phase jury instructions in Kentucky familiar to this generation of
trial judges and attorneys have traditionally stated what the jury must believe from the
evidence beyond a reasonable doubt in order to find a defendant guilty of an offense
and directed the jury to find the defendant not guilty if, upon the whole case, it has a
reasonable doubt as to the defendant’s guilt. 1 John S. Palmore & Robert G. Lawson,
Instructions to Juries in Kentucky (Criminal) Preface at iii (1975) (“The purpose of
instructions, in Kentucky, is to tell the jury simp/y and plainly what it must believe from
the evidence (and, in a criminal case, beyond a reasonable doubt) in order to resolve
each issue in favor of the party with the burden of proof on that issue, and what it is to
do if it does or does not so find.” (emphasis in original) (paraphrasing Webster v.
Commonwealth, Ky., 508 S.W.2d 33, 36 (1974) (“The function of instructions in this
jurisdiction is only to state what the jury must believe from the evidence (and in a
criminal case, beyond a reasonable doubt) in order to return a verdict in favor of the
party who bears the burden of proof.“)); Cooper, supra note 1 at § 1.52; 3 Stanley’s
Instructions to Juries (Criminal Cases) § 762 (2nd ed. 1957).
?n the other interrogatories, the trial court asked the jury to determine whether or
not: (1) Durham knew that the trailer was occupied; (2) Durham “intended to cause
physical injury to the occupants of the trailer,” (3) Durham acted “with wanton disregard
for the safety of the occupants,” and (4) Durham acted in self-protection. Finally, the
interrogatories asked the jury to determine the number of persons present in the trailer
at the time of the shooting, the number of persons injured, and the extent of those
injuries. In addition to the interrogatories, the instructions included a reasonable doubt
instruction as required by RCr 9.56 and definitions of certain words and phrases used in
the interrogatories (e.g., the relevant culpable mental states, “physical injury” and
“serious physical injury”).
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The jury answered “No” to this interrogatory and returned to the courtroom. The trial
court subsequently entered a judgment of acquittal and dismissed the indictment with
prejudice.
Pursuant to Kentucky Constitution § 11 !j4 and Civil Rule 76.37(10),” the
Commonwealth requested, and this Court accepted, certification of the law as to the
following question:
Whether jury instructions in a criminal case, phrased in the
form of so-called “interrogatories” satisfy long-standing
requirements of Kentucky law.6
RCr 954(l) outlines the basic principles governing jury instructions in criminal
cases:
It shall be the duty of the court to instruct the jury in writing
on the law of the case, which instructions shall be read to
the jury prior to the closing summations of counsel. These
requirements shall not be waived except by agreement of
both the defense and prosecution.’
While our Rules of Criminal Procedure contain no provision specifically authorizing trial
courts in criminal cases to instruct the jury of the law of the case via fact-based
4”ln all cases, civil and criminal, there shall be allowed as a matter of right at
least one appeal to another court, except that the Commonwealth may not appeal from
a judgment of acquittal in a criminal case, other than for the purpose of securing a
certification of law . . . .” KY. CONST . § 115.
5”A request by the Commonwealth of Kentucky pursuant to Section 115 of the
Constitution of Kentucky shall be initiated in the Supreme Court. The request shall be
initiated within thirty (30) days of a final order adverse to the Commonwealth. The
Commonwealth shall initiate the certification procedure by motion requesting the
Supreme Court to accept the question(s) for review. . . . ” CR 76.37(10).
‘The Commonwealth requests that the law be certified “as precluding use of
special verdicts and interrogatories in criminal cases except in very narrow and
particular circumstances.”
‘RCr 9.54(l).
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interrogatories, our Rules of Civil Procedure authorize the use of such interrogatories in
connection with both special verdicts’ and general verdicts9
in civil matters tried before
a jury:
Rule 49.01 Special verdicts.
The court may require a jury to return only a special verdict
in the form of a special written finding upon each issue of
fact. In the event the court may submit to the jury written
questions susceptible of categorical or other brief answers or
may submit written forms of the several special findings
which might properly be made under the pleadings and
evidence; or it may use such other method of submitting the
issues and requiring the written findings thereon as it deems
most appropriate. The court shall give to the jury such
written instructions concerning the matter thus submitted as
‘See 3 Bouvier’s Law Dictionary 3392 (3rd rev. 8’h ed. 1914) (“A special verdict is
one by which the facts are found, and the law is submitted to the judges.“); Black’s Law
Dictionary 1555 (7th ed. 1999) (“A verdict that gives a written finding for each issue,
leaving the application of the law to the judge.” Id.); 75B Am.Jur.2d (Trial) § 1835 (“A
special verdict is a determination by the jury, in lieu of a general verdict, of those facts
embraced within the issues which give rise to legal conclusions, the decision of the
cause on those facts being referred to the court.“); Kentucky Code of Practice in
Criminal Cases (hereinafter “Grim. Code Prac.“) § 259 (1877) (repealed 1963) (“A
special verdict is a finding of the facts only, leaving the law arising on the facts to the
judgment of the court[] . . . .‘I); Wilson v. Commonwealth, Ky., 132 SW. 557, 560 (1910)
(“At the common law the jury either returned special verdicts, setting forth the facts
supporting the prosecution and prayed the judgment of the court thereon, or a general
verdict of guilty. Thereupon the punishment was fixed by the court and enforced by
ministerial officers charged by the law with that duty.” (citing 4 Blackstone’s
Commentaries, p. 361)); Commonwealth v. Haaer, Ky., 41 S.W.3d 828, 836 n.2 (2001)
(“Interrogatory instructions require the jury to reach a series of mini-verdicts, instead of
one unanimous verdict with respect to the ultimate issue of guilt or innocence.“).
‘a 3 Bouvier’s Law Dictionary 3392 (3rd rev. 8’” ed. 1914) (“A general verdict is
one by which the jury pronounce at the same time on the facts and the law, either in
favor of the plaintiff or defendant.“); Black’s Law Dictionary 1555 (7’h ed. 1999) (“A
verdict by which the jury finds in favor of one party or the other, as opposed to resolving
specific fact questions.“); 75B Am.Jur.2d (Trial) § 1751 (“A general verdict is one by
which the jury pronounces generally on all or any of the issues, in favor of either plaintiff
or defendant.“); Crim. Code Prac. § 257(2) (“Upon a plea of ‘not guilty,’ [a general
verdict] is ‘guilty,’ or ‘not guilty’; and if ‘guilty,’ fixing the offense and the degree of the
offense and the punishment, in cases in which the jury is required to fix the degree of
punishment.” ); Wilson v. Commonwealth, supra note 8 at 560.
4
may be necessary to enable the jury to make its findings
upon each issue. . . .‘O
Rule 49.02 General Verdict Accompanied by answer to
interrogatories.
The court may submit to the jury, together with appropriate
forms for a general verdict, written interrogatories upon one
or more issues of fact the decision of which is necessary to
a verdict. The Court shall give such written instructions as
may be necessary to enable the jury both to make answers
to the interroaatories and to render a aeneral verdict, and
the court shall direct the jury both to make written answers
and to render a general verdict. When the general verdict
and the answers are harmonious, the court shall direct the
entry of the appropriate judgment upon the verdict and
answers. When the answers are consistent with each other
but one or more is inconsistent with the general verdict, the
court may direct the entry of judgment in accordance with
the answers, notwithstanding the general verdict, or may
return the jury for further consideration of its answers and
verdict or may order a new trial. When the answers are
inconsistent with each other and one or more is likewise
inconsistent with the general verdict, the court shall not
direct the entry of judgment but may return the jury for
further consideration of its answers and verdict or may order
a new trial.”
Because our criminal rules provide that our civil rules are “applicable in criminal
proceedings to the extent not superseded by or inconsistent with these Rules of
Criminal Procedure”‘2 the question for certification presents a two-fold issue: (1) does
RCr 9.54 permit trial courts in criminal cases “to instruct the jury on the law of the case”
in the form of fact-based interrogatories?; and (2) if so, does RCr 9.54 permit trial courts
to utilize such interrogatories without also requiring the jury to return a general verdict?
“CR 49.01 (emphasis added).
“CR 49.02 (emphasis added).
12RCr 13.04.
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These questions require us to interpret RCr 9.54 within the historical context of jury
verdicts in criminal cases.
Initially, we recognize that “special verdicts originated in England centuries ago
and were proper under the common law,“13 and that “the jury either returned special
verdicts, setting forth the facts supporting the prosecution and prayed the judgment of
the court thereon, or a general verdict of guilty,“‘4
a general verdict.15
but that the jury had the right to return
While Kentucky’s former Code of Practice in Criminal Cases
131 Stanley’s Instructions to Juries (Civil Cases) § 49 (2”d ed. 1957). See also
Morgan, A Brief History of Special Verdicts and Special Interrogatories, 32 Yale L.J.
575 (1923) (hereinafter “Morgan”) (“In criminal cases as well, the jurors frequently
returned special findings, particularly where the act alleged had actually occurred, but
without criminality upon the part of the accused.” Id. at 581); But see Peoole v Ramsey,
Mich., 375 N.W.2d 297, 307-308 (“At common law, the jury in a criminal prosecution
ordinarily returned a general verdict -- guilty or not guilty. Alternatively, the jury might
return with a statement of findings of fact without a general verdict. . . . It appears that
the jury returned with only findings of fact and no verdict when it was unsure of the
proper application of the law to the facts[] . . . .I’).
14Wilson v. Commonwealth, supra note 8 at 560 (After the return of either a
special verdict supporting a judgment of conviction or a general verdict of guilty, “the
punishment was fixed by the court . . . .“)
15a Morgan, supra note 13 at 591 (“It, therefore, seems safe to assert that at
common law the jury almost from the beginning had the right to return a general verdict
in all civil cases and in most criminal cases, and that by the close of the eighteenth
century it had acquired this right in all criminal cases.“).
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expressly authorized the use of special verdicts in criminal cases,” general verdicts
were commonplace in criminal cases, and special verdicts fell into disuse.”
Although the Rules of Criminal Procedure, which we adopted simultaneously
with the Criminal Code’s repeal,18 do not expressly authorize the use of special verdicts,
neither do they prohibit their use.” To the contrary, both our criminal rules and the
later-enacted Kentucky Penal Code direct the use of types of special verdicts*’ in
certain criminal cases - e.g., when the defense is premised upon mental illness*’ and
16& Crim. Code Prac. 5 256 (“The jury may render either a general or special
verdict.” (emphasis added)); § 259 (“A special verdict is a finding of the facts only,
leaving the law arising on the facts the judgment of the court , . . .I’); 5 260 (“A special
verdict must present the conclusions of fact as established by the evidence, and not the
evidence of those facts, and the facts must be so presented that the court has nothing
to do but draw the conclusions of law upon them.“); § 261 (“The special verdict must be
reduced to writing by the jury, and read to them in the presence of the court. It shall not
be received by the court unless it pronounce, affirmatively or negatively, on the facts
necessary to enable the court to give judgment.“); 3 Stanley’s Instructions to Juries
(Criminal Cases) supra note 3 at § 778(“Special verdicts are allowed by the Criminal
Code under proper written instructions. The requisites are therein stated.“).
“See supra note 2 and surrounding text.
181 962 Ky. Acts, Chapter 234 5s 61(2), 63.
“At least, one court, however, suggested that the absence of a criminal
procedural rule indicates a proscription against the use of special verdicts generally in
criminal cases. United States v. Speck, 416 F.2d 165, 180 (lst Cir. !969) (“While the
absence of a rule is not necessarily determinative, . . . it is highly suggestive.“).
*‘These so-called “special verdicts” are more analogous to a verdict under CR
49.02 -- a general verdict accompanied by written answers -- than special verdicts
under CR 49.01, see supra notes 10 and 11, because they are accompanied by a
general verdict of guilty or not guilty.
*‘See RCr 9.90(l) (“If the defense of insanity is made by the defendant, the jury
must be instructed to state the finding of insanity in their verdict if they acquit the
defendant on that ground.” a.); KRS 504.120:
In cases in which the defendant provides evidence at trial
of his mental illness or insanity at the time of the offense, the
(continued...)
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in KRS Chapter 531 prosecutions.** In addition, both statutory and case law require
“(...continued)
&Q or court may find the defendant:
Guilty;
(1)
Not guilty;
Not auiltv bv reason of insanitv at the time of the
I:;
offense: or
Guilty but mentally ill at the time of the offense.
(4)
u. (emphasis added); 9 Abramson, West’s Kentucky Practice, Criminal Practice §
30.30 at 312 (3rd Ed. 1997) (“[Special verdicts of a sort exist where the jury must specify
not guilty by reason of insanity or guilty but mentally ill.“).
22&g KRS 531.080:
(1)
(2)
The jury, or the court, if a jury trial is waived, shall
render a general verdict, and shall also render a
special verdict as to whether the matter named in the
charge is obscene. The special verdict or findings on
the issue of obscenity may be: ‘We find the
(title or description of matter) to be
obscene,’ or, ‘We find the
(title
or description of matter) not to be obscene,’ as they
may find each item is or is not obscene.
Whenever a person is tried for distribution of matter
portraying a sexual performance by a minor, the jury,
or the court, if a jury trial is waived, shall render a
special verdict as to whether the matter named in the
charge portrays a sexual performance by a minor.
The special verdict or findings on the issue of whether
or not the matter portrays a sexual performance by a
minor may be: ‘We find the
(title
or description of matter) to portray a sexual
performance by a minor,’ or, ‘We find the
(title or description of matter) not
to portray a sexual performance by a minor,’ as they
may find each item to portray or not to portray a
sexual performance by a minor.
Id.; Smith v. Commonwealth, Ky., 465 S.W.2d 918, 920 (1971) (“The instructions to the
jury specifically required the jury to find beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused
‘had knowledge’ of the obscenity of the material before any finding of guilt could be
had.“).
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juries to make special findings in cases where the penalty range for an offense
increases if a jury finds an additional aggravating circumstance.23
While not necessarily establishing a per se rule against special verdicts, most
other jurisdictions which have addressed the issue have generally expressed disfavor
with the use of special verdicts in criminal cases24 but recognize their value in certain
contexts and allow trial courts the discretion to utilize them.*’
The majority of the criticism levied against special verdicts in criminal cases is
based on the belief that instructions requiring a chain of fact-based determinations
“might be devices for bringing judicial pressure to bear on juries in reaching their
23See KRS 532.025(3) (“The jury, if its verdict be a recommendation of death, or
imprisonment for life without benefit of probation or parole, or imprisonment for life
without benefit of probation or parole until the defendant has served a minimum of
twenty-five (25) years of his sentence, shall designate in writing, signed by the foreman
of the jury, the aggravating circumstance or circumstances which it found beyond a
reasonable doubt.” Id.). See also Clay v. Commonwealth, Ky., 818 S.W.2d 264 (1991)
(subsequent drug offense); Dedic v. Commonwealth, Ky., 920 S.W.2d 878 (1996)
(subsequent offense of driving while under the influence of alcohol). We again note that
these special findings, vis-a-vis special verdicts, are preceded by a general verdict of
guilty.
24See United States v. Bertoli, 854 F. Supp. 975, 1067-68 (D.N.J. 1994)
(compiling federal cases); State v. Heald, 307 A.2d 188 (Me. 1973); State v. Robinson,
47 N.W.2d 896 (Minn. 1991); Statev. The Greater Huntington Theatre Corporation, 55
S.E.2d 681 (W.Va. 1949).
25State v. Bell, 770 P.2d 100 (Utah 1988) (racketeering charges); State v.
Robinson, supra note 24 (sentencing); United States v. Rugoiero, 726 F.2d 913 (2”d Cir.
1984) (predicate acts in RICO cases); United States v. Ellis, 168 F.3d 558 (lst Cir.
1999) (sentencing); United States v. Pforzheimer, 826 F.2d 200 (2nd Cir. 1987)
(sentencing); United States v. Sims, 975 F.2d 1225 (6th Cir. 1992) (sentencing); United
States v. Reed, 147 F.3d 1178 (gth Cir. 1998) (“determine the occurrence of any of a
series of acts, each of which is sufficient to constitute the indicted crime[] . . . .“); United
States v. Palmeri, 630 F.2d 192 (3rd Cir. 1980) (“constructing a chain of findings.“).
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verclicts.“26 Others have condemned jury instructions which compel special verdicts or
findings because they impair the Constitutional right of trial by jury:
It is one of the most essential features of the right of trial by
jury that no jury should be compelled to find any but a
general verdict in criminal cases, and the removal of this
safeguard would violate its design and destroy its spirit.*’
And, some argue that a combination of these concerns threaten a criminal defendant’s
right to procedural due process:
Any objection to this procedure must necessarily be based
on an argument that it impairs the defendant’s constitutional
rights to be tried by a jury and to due process of law. To ask
the jury special questions might be said to infringe on its
power to deliberate free from legal fetters; on its power to
arrive at a general verdict without having to support it by
reasons or by a report of its deliberations; and on its power
to follow or not to follow the instructions of the court.
Moreover any abridgement or modification of this institution
would partly restrict its historic function, that of tempering
*%Jnited States v. O’Looney, 544 F.2d 385, 392 (gth Cir. 1976); United States v.
Speck. supra note 19 at 182:
There is no easier way to reach, and perhaps force, a
verdict of guilty than to approach it step by step. A juror,
wishing to acquit, may be formally catechized. By a
progression of questions each of which seems to require an
answer unfavorable to the defendant, a reluctant juror may
be led to vote for a conviction which, in the large, he would
have resisted. The result may be accomplished by a majority
of the jury, but the course has been initiated by the judge,
and directed by him through the frame of the questions.
Id.; Commonwealth v. Haaer, supra note 8 at 836 t-r.2 (“Requiring[] . . . multiple miniverdicts on interrogatory instructions simply increases the likelihood of instructional
error.“).
*‘George B. Clementson, Special Verdicts and Special Findings by Juries, 49
(photo. reprint 1999) (1905) (hereinafter “Clementson”).
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rules of law by common sense brought to bear upon the
facts of a specific case.28
In any event, the law is well-settled in Kentucky that ‘Jilt is for the jury to find the
ultimate fact of guilt upon the evidence, under instructions of the court as to the law.“2g
In so doing, they have the right to return a general verdict even if that right, as a
practical matter, empowers juries to return verdicts contrary to the law:
The jury are the exclusive judges of the facts. In this
particular, they cannot be controlled, and ought not to be
instructed by the court. They are also “ex necessifafe,” the
ultimate judges, in one respect, of the law. If they acquit, the
judge cannot grant a new trial, how much soever, they have
misconceived or disregarded the law.
They have the riaht. in all cases. to find a aeneral verdict of
guilty or not auilty. As guilt or innocence, is a deduction from
the law and facts of the case, the jury must, therefore,
28United States v. Oaull, 149 F. Supp. 272, 276 (S.D.N.Y. 1957) (footnotes
omitted); State v. Heald, supra note 24 at 193:
We conclude that unless the interrogatories were of the
type designed ‘to lead the jurors down the guilty trail’ and
that the jury verdict becomes but a ‘hollow affirmation’ from
jurors catechized by the questions they have been
compelled to answer, the constitutional concepts of due
process and trial by jury are not violated . . . .
Id. (citation omitted)).
2gBardin v. Commonwealth, Ky., 231 S.W. 208, 209 (1921). See also Young v.
Hunt, Ky., 781 S.W.2d 503, 510 (1989) (“In a criminal case the jury must determine the
fact of guilt or innocence.“); Beets v. Commonwealth, Ky., 437 S.W.2d 496, 499 (1969)
(“An instruction must submit to the jury the issue of guilt or innocence of the accused of
the crime for which he stands trial.“); United States v. Speck, supra note 19 at 181 (“It is
one of the most essential features of the right of trial by jury that no jury should be
compelled to find any but a general verdict in criminal cases, and the removal of this
safeguard would violate its design and destroy its spirit.” Id. (quoting Clementson, supra
note 27 at 49)).
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necessarily decide the law, incidentally, as well as the facts,
before they can say, that the accused is guilty or not guilty.30
Trial courts cannot, therefore, enter a judgment of conviction in a criminal case
solely upon a jury’s special verdict - although, by definition, a special verdict includes
the jury’s factual findings - without impermissibly infringing upon a defendant’s right to
trial by jury, in effect, directing a verdict of guilty:
A court is without riaht to direct a jury to find a defendant
guiltv where his olea is not auiltv.
By section 7 of the Bill of Rights of our Constitution it
provided that the ancient mode of trial by jury shall be held
sacred, and the right thereof remain inviolate, subject to
such modification as may be authorized by the Constitution.
ilitis never broper for the court to direct a verdict of auilty
where there is a olea of not auiltv, notwithstandina the fact
that the evidence of his auilt may be convincing and wholly
uncontradicted. Under the constitutional guaranty that a
person charged with the commission of a crime is entitled to
a trial by jury, the accused person has, in every case where
he has pleaded not guilty, the absolute right to have the
question of his innocence or guilt submitted to a jury, no
matter what the state of the evidence may be. 31
We recognize that there are cases and circumstances in which eliciting
particularized information from the jury is necessary and permissible,32
and we thus
believe that RCr 9.54(l) does not prohibit all uses of fact-based interrogatories in
criminal jury instructions. Because a jury in a criminal case has the right to return a
general verdict, however, we believe that all jury instructions in criminal cases must
provide a verdict form which permits the jury to return a general verdict of either guilty or
30Montee v. Commonwealth, 26 Ky. 132, 149 (1830) (emphasis added).
31Bardin v. Commonwealth, supra note 29 at 209 (emphasis added).
32See supra notes 21-23 and 25 and surrounding text.
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not gulity. Trial courts’ jury instructions in criminal cases cannot, therefore, consist
solely of the fact-based interrogatories and/or special verdicts as authorized in civil
cases by CR 49.01. We nonetheless believe the procedure described in CR 49.02,
whereby fact-based interrogatories accompany a general verdict, is consistent with our
criminal rules -with the caveat that a trial court may not direct a verdict contrary to the
jury’s general verdict of not guilty.
We therefore certify that trial courts may utilize such interrogatories in their jury
instructions if, and only if, those interrogatories are accompanied by verdict forms which
authorize the jury to return a general verdict.33
However, we reiterate our belief that,
unless directed otherwise by statute, court rule, or precedent, trial courts should utilize
jury instructions which call for special verdicts only sparingly and upon careful
consideration of the defendant’s due process rights.
The law is so certified.
Lambert, C.J.; Johnstone, Keller, Stumbo and Wintersheimer, JJ., concur.
Cooper, J., concurs in part and dissents in part by separate opinion in which Graves, J.,
joins.
33% Cooper, supra note 1 at s2.08, 2.09 at 78-81.
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COUNSEL FOR APPELLANT:
A. 9. Chandler, III
Attorney General
Matthew D. Nelson
Assistant Attorney General
Office of Attorney General
Criminal Appellate Division
1024 Capital Center Drive
Frankfort, Kentucky 40601-8204
Christopher Brown
Assistant Attorney General
Office of Attorney General
Criminal Appellate Division
1024 Capital Center Drive
Frankfort, Kentucky 40601-8204
COUNSEL FOR APPELLEE:
Shelly R. Fears
Assistant Public Advocate
Department of Public Advocacy
100 Fair Oaks Lane, Suite 302
Frankfort, Kentucky 40601-I 133
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RENDERED: OCTOBER 252001
TO BE PUBLISHED
1998-SC-0816-CL
COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY
V.
APPELLANT
CERTIFICATION OF THE LAW FROM
BELL CIRCUIT COURT
INDICTMENT NO. 97-CR-0077
ALBERT RAY DURHAM, SR.
APPELLEE
OPINION BY JUSTICE COOPER
CONCURRING IN PART AND DISSENTING IN PART
I disagree with the majority’s conclusion that CR 49.02 applies to instructions in
criminal cases. RCr 13.04 provides that “[t]he Rules of Civil Procedure shall be
applicable in criminal proceedings to the extent not superseded by or inconsistent with
these Rules of Criminal Procedure.” (Emphasis added.) When CR 49.02 was adopted,
Sections 256 and 259 of the Code of Practice in Criminal Cases permitted juries to
render special verdicts, defined in Section 260 as “conclusions of fact as established by
the evidence, and not the evidence of those facts.” When the Criminal Code was
replaced by the present Criminal Rules in January 1963, the provision for special
verdicts was deleted and RCr 9.82 now states: “Ihe verdict shall be unanimous. I
shall be returned by the jury in open court.” (Emphasis added.) The implication is
clear; there shall be only one verdict. Thus, the provision for multiple verdicts in civil
cases in CR 49.02 is “inconsistent with these Rules of Criminal Procedure.”
The majority correctly notes that certain penal code provisions require special
verdicts with respect to aggravating circumstances, obscenity, and sexual performances
by minors. However, I would limit the use of interrogatories or form verdicts to only
those that are required by such provisions or that are necessary to determine the type
of penalty phase required upon conviction, u, whether a conviction of kidnapping
requires a penalty phase as described in KRS 532.055 or as described in KRS
532.025. Otherwise, interrogatories and special verdicts serve no purpose. If a general
instruction with respect to an offense requires the jury to find the existence of each
element of that offense beyond a reasonable doubt, what purpose is served by
separate interrogatories with respect to those elements? The instructions described in
Commonwealth v. Haaer, Ky., 41 S.W.3d 828 (2001),
are representative of the mischief
that can result when a jury is required to struggle through a maze of mini-verdicts
before returning a general verdict of guilt or innocence.
Finally, what if the jury answers “yes” to the interrogatories with respect to each
element of the offense, but returns a verdict of “not guilty”? “[IIn a criminal case it is a
longstanding common law tradition . . . that the jury always has the option of
disbelieving the evidence offered to prove guilt and returning a ‘not guilty’ verdict.”
Medlev v. Commonwealth, KY., 704 S.W.2d 190, 191 (1985). The following is said in
United States v. Leach, 632 F.2d 1337 (5th Cir. 1980):
Of course, the jury may have believed the Government’s case and
still have acquitted Leach. Jury nullification -- the right of a jury to acquit
for whatever reasons even though the evidence supports a conviction -- is
an important part of the jury trial system guaranteed by the Constitution.
In this case, it is not inconceivable that the jury might have been offended
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by the number of government witnesses who had been allowed to plead
guilty to greatly reduced charges in return for their testimony, and might
have felt it unfair to convict Leach in light of the lenient treatment received
by the others.
Id.at 1341 n.12.
While it is easy to say that the general verdict prevails over the special verdict,
what of the argument that the return of a not-guilty verdict after finding the existence of
all the elements of an offense is not a disregard of the evidence but a disregard of the
law? Cf. Medley, supra, at 191:
Counsel has the right to argue that the jury may disbelieve the evidence
and find the defendant not guilty, but no right to argue that it may
disregard the law because it believes the minimum penalty set by the
legislature is too severe.
Worse, what if the jury returns a general verdict of guilty but an answer of “No” to
an interrogatory as to one of the elements of the offense?
I, for one, prefer to keep Pandora’s box closed and leave the jury’s deliberations
in the jury room where they properly belong. See RCr 10.04; Grider v. Commonwealth,
Ky., 398 S.W.2d 496 (1966).
Graves, J., joins this opinion, concurring in part and dissenting in part.
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