2
3
4
5
6 Cosponsor:
7 Travis M. Seegmiller
8
9 LONG TITLE
10 General Description:
11 This bill addresses the justifiable use or threatened use of force.
12 Highlighted Provisions:
13 This bill:
14 ▸ defines the defense of justifiable use or threatened use of force; and
15 ▸ establishes procedures for determining the applicability of the defense.
16 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
17 None
18 Other Special Clauses:
19 None
20 Utah Code Sections Affected:
21 AMENDS:
22 77-18a-1, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2020, Chapter 185
23 ENACTS:
24 76-2-309, Utah Code Annotated 1953
25
26 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
27 Section 1. Section 76-2-309 is enacted to read:
28 76-2-309. Justified use of force.
29 (1) An individual who uses or threatens to use force as permitted in Section 76-2-402,
30 76-2-404, 76-2-405, 76-2-406, 76-2-407, or 76-2-408 is justified in that conduct.
31 (2) The pretrial justification hearing process described in Subsections (3)(a) and (b)
32 does not apply if:
33 (a) (i) the individual against whom force was used or threatened is a law enforcement
34 officer, as defined in Section 53-13-103;
35 (ii) the officer was acting lawfully in the performance of the officer's official duties;
36 and
37 (iii) (A) the officer was identified as an officer by the officer in accordance with
38 applicable law; or
39 (B) the individual using or threatening to use force knew or reasonably should have
40 known that the officer was a law enforcement officer; or
41 (b) the charge filed against the defendant for which the defendant seeks a pretrial
42 justification hearing is an infraction, a class B or C misdemeanor, or a domestic violence
43 offense as defined in Section 77-36-1.
44 (3) (a) Upon motion of the defendant filed in accordance with Rule 12 of the Utah
45 Rules of Criminal Procedure, the court shall hear evidence on the issue of justification under
46 this section and shall determine as a matter of fact and law whether the defendant was justified
47 in the use or threatened use of force.
48 (b) At the pretrial justification hearing, after the defendant makes a prima facie claim
49 of justification, the state has the burden to prove by clear and convincing evidence that the
50 defendant's use or threatened use of force was not justified.
51 (c) (i) If the court determines that the state has not met the state's burden described in
52 Subsection (3)(b), the court shall dismiss the charge with prejudice.
53 (ii) The state may appeal a court's order dismissing a charge under Subsection (3)(c)(i)
54 in accordance with Section 77-18a-1.
55 (iii) If a court determines after the pretrial justification hearing that the state has met
56 the state's burden described in Subsection (3)(b), the issue of justification may be raised by the
57 defendant to the jury at trial and, if raised by the defendant, the state shall have the burden to
58 prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant's use or threatened use of force was not
59 justified.
60 (iv) At trial, a court's determination that the state met the state's burden under
61 Subsection (3)(c)(iii) is not admissible and may not be referenced by the prosecution.
62 Section 2. Section 77-18a-1 is amended to read:
63 77-18a-1. Appeals -- When proper.
64 (1) A defendant may, as a matter of right, appeal from:
65 (a) a final judgment of conviction, whether by verdict or plea;
66 (b) an order made after judgment that affects the substantial rights of the defendant;
67 (c) an order adjudicating the defendant's competency to proceed further in a pending
68 prosecution; or
69 (d) an order denying bail, as provided in Section 77-20-1.
70 (2) In addition to any appeal permitted by Subsection (1), a defendant may seek
71 discretionary appellate review of any interlocutory order.
72 (3) The prosecution may, as a matter of right, appeal from:
73 (a) a final judgment of dismissal, including a dismissal of a felony information
74 following a refusal to bind the defendant over for trial;
75 (b) a pretrial order dismissing a charge on the ground that the court's suppression of
76 evidence has substantially impaired the prosecution's case;
77 (c) an order granting a motion to withdraw a plea of guilty or no contest;
78 (d) an order arresting judgment or granting a motion for merger;
79 (e) an order terminating the prosecution because of a finding of double jeopardy or
80 denial of a speedy trial;
81 (f) an order granting a new trial;
82 (g) an order holding a statute or any part of it invalid;
83 (h) an order adjudicating the defendant's competency to proceed further in a pending
84 prosecution;
85 (i) an order finding, pursuant to Title 77, Chapter 19, Part 2, Competency for
86 Execution, that an inmate sentenced to death is incompetent to be executed;
87 (j) an order reducing the degree of offense pursuant to Section 76-3-402; [
88 (k) an illegal sentence[
89 (l) an order dismissing a charge pursuant to Subsection 76-2-309(3).
90 (4) In addition to any appeal permitted by Subsection (3), the prosecution may seek
91 discretionary appellate review of any interlocutory order entered before jeopardy attaches.