State v. Alcorn
| Decision Date | 12 August 1994 |
| Docket Number | No. 49S00-9305-DP-585,49S00-9305-DP-585 |
| Citation | 638 N.E.2d 1242 |
| Parties | STATE of Indiana, Appellant, v. William P. ALCORN, Appellee. |
| Court | Indiana Supreme Court |
Pamela Carter, Atty. Gen., Geoff Davis, Deputy Atty. Gen., for appellant.
David E. Cook, Samper, Hawkins, Atz & Cook, Indianapolis, David L. Byers, Holwager & Holwager, Beech Grove, for appellee.
This cause comes to us on an interlocutory appeal from the Marion Superior Court. This Court has jurisdiction to resolve the appealable matter pursuant to Ind.Appellate Rule 4(A). The interlocutory appeal challenges the constitutionality of a saving clause in P.L. 250-1993, Section 3 which amended Ind.Code §§ 35-50-2-3 and 35-50-2-9.
On December 10, 1991, appellee was charged by information of Murder, Felony Murder and Robbery, a Class A felony. The State subsequently filed an information for the death penalty and later an amended information for the death penalty.
On July 1, 1993, amendments to the Indiana death penalty statute took effect. As amended, Ind.Code § 35-50-2-3(b) allows a trial court to impose a sentence of life imprisonment without parole as an alternative sentence to death. Also as amended, Ind.Code § 35-50-2-9 requires the court in a death penalty case to instruct the jury concerning the range of statutory penalties for murder and allows the jury to recommend life imprisonment without parole as a sentence. Public Law 250-1993, Section 3 provides that the amended versions of Ind.Code §§ 35-50-2-3 and 35-50-2-9 only apply to murders committed after June 30, 1993.
On September 8, 1993, appellee made a pretrial motion for the court to instruct the jury concerning the sentencing alternative of life imprisonment without parole in the event he was found guilty of murder. The State objected to appellee's motion; however, after a hearing on the matter, the court granted the motion. In reaching its decision to grant appellee's motion, the trial court ruled that P.L. 250-1993, Section 3 violated the Equal Protection clauses of both the Indiana and United States Constitutions.
Appellant claims the trial court erred when it granted appellee's motion to instruct the jury concerning the sentencing alternative of life imprisonment without parole. Appellant contends the saving clause is not an unconstitutional denial of appellee's equal protection rights.
Appellant correctly points out that every enactment of the General Assembly stands before the appellate court cloaked with a presumption of constitutionality, Eddy v. McGinnis (1988), Ind. 523 N.E.2d 737, and that a saving clause is presumed to be constitutional until that presumption is rebutted. Gee v. State (1987), Ind., 508 N.E.2d 787.
In addressing an equal protection challenge, we must first determine which level of scrutiny is applicable: the traditional "rational basis" analysis or the more stringent "strict scrutiny" analysis. We will apply a rational basis analysis except where the classification is suspect or involves fundamental rights. Collins v. Day (1992), Ind.App, 604 N.E.2d 647. Strict scrutiny applies only if the classification "impermissibly interferes with the exercise of a fundamental right or operates to the peculiar disadvantage of a suspect class." Id. at 649; Massachusetts Bd. of Retirement v. Murgia (1976), 427 U.S. 307, 312, 96 S.Ct. 2562, 2566, 49 L.E.2d 520, 524. Examples of fundamental rights are voting, procreation, interstate travel, presenting a defense in a criminal action; while examples of suspect classes are race, gender, national/ethnic origin and alienage. Johnson v. St. Vincent Hospital, Inc. (1980), 273 Ind. 374, 404 N.E.2d 585.
Appellee claims that strict equal protection scrutiny should apply in this case. He asserts that the saving clause distinguishes between murders committed after June 30, 1993 and those committed before that date. He argues that since he has a "fundamental interest in life", the classification must further a compelling state interest. We do not agree. The interest that appellee has in life is curtailed by the procedures laid out in the death penalty statute. Further, there is no suspect class affected by the saving clause. Accordingly, the appropriate level of scrutiny to apply is the rational basis analysis, which merely requires the classification to bear some rational relationship to a legitimate state interest or goal. Collins, supra.
As mentioned above, the saving clause was designed to apply to those murders committed after June 30, 1993. In doing this, the legislature created a nexus between the date of the murderous conduct and the implementation of the amended death penalty statute. The saving clause does not violate appellee's equal protection right because it is rationally related to the state's interest in determining under what circumstances the alternative sentence will be available. The manner in which the legislature made its determination was highly appropriate. We find no reason to interfere with the province of the legislature.
Appellee claims the application of the saving clause violates principles of reformation and may result in vindictive justice in violation of the Indiana Constitution.
We have held that if a defendant is found guilty of an offense, he shall be sentenced under the statute in force at the time the offense was committed. Gee, supra; Bonner v. State (1979), 271 Ind. 388, 392 N.E.2d 1169. The time of a crime is selected as an act of free will by the offender. Gee, supra. Penal consequences are frozen as of that event. Id. Alteration of them through subsequent events by the offender or the State is foreclosed. Id.
At the time of the alleged offense of which appellee is charged, the sentence of life imprisonment without parole was not an available option under the statute. Accordingly, appellee's trial must be governed by the law that was in effect when the crime was committed. We believe the application of the saving clause in this matter will not violate any principle of reformation; and neither is it an exercise of vindictive justice.
Appellee's brief asserts three additional issues pertaining to the saving clause. Appellant has pointed out that appellee failed to advance these issues during the trial court's hearing on the pretrial motion, and the court did not rely on them in ruling on the motion. The trial court's order granting appellee's motion to instruct the jury on the alternative sentence of life imprisonment was based solely on equal protection grounds. Notwithstanding this, the Court will address these issues since this appeal involves a substantial question of law and appellee is charged with a serious crime that may result in a death penalty.
Appellee contends the application of the saving clause may result in a disproportionate sentence in violation of both the Indiana and United States Constitutions. He claims the possibility of him receiving the death penalty is grossly disproportionate to all future death penalty cases where the defendants will have at least an opportunity to receive the sentence of life imprisonment without parole.
Article I, § 16 of the Indiana Constitution provides in part: "All penalties shall be proportioned to the nature of the offense." The United States Supreme Court has held that the Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution also requires that a penalty be proportioned to the offense. Solem v. Helm (1983), 463 U.S. 277, 103 S.Ct. 3001, 77 L.Ed.2d 637; Carroll v. State (1980), 273 Ind. 118, 402 N.E.2d 1234, 1235, citing Weems v. United States (1910), 217 U.S. 349, 30 S.Ct. 544, 54 L.Ed. 793.
In an attempt to prove the disproportionate affect of the saving clause, appellee makes a comparison of his possible sentence with the possible sentences of future offenders convicted of murder. This Court and the United States Supreme Court...
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