Understanding Legal Presumptions and Inferences

1. CHAP. 10PRESUMPTIONS(AND PERMISSIBLE INFERENCES) P. JANICKE 2011

2. TERMINOLOGY • A PRESUMPTION IS A JUDGE-MANDATED CONCLUSION THAT THE JURY MUST REACH IF IT FINDS CERTAIN PREMISE FACTS AND THERE IS NO REBUTTAL EVIDENCE Chap. 10 -- Presumptions

3. PROPERLY SPEAKING, PRESUMPTIONS ONLY EXIST IN CIVIL CASES • HOWEVER, HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT HAS MIXED UP THE LANGUAGE • TODAY WE SAY THERE ARE PRESUMPTIONS IN CRIMINAL CASES, BUT THEIR EFFECT IS DIFFERENT • THESE ARE ACTUALLY PERMISSIVE COMMENTS MADE TO THE JURY, RATHER THAN MANDATES Chap. 10 -- Presumptions

4. TERMINOLOGY • UNLIKE A PRESUMPTION, A “PERMISSIVE INFERENCE” IS MERELY A NUDGE: • A CONCLUSION THAT THE JURY MAY DRAW IF IT WISHES • JUDGE TELLS THEM THEY MAY DRAW IT • BASED ON CASE PRECEDENTS : • PRIOR CASES HOLDING CERTAIN FACTS SUFFICIENT TO SUPPORT A VERDICT Chap. 10 -- Presumptions

5. TRIGGER FACTS • PRESUMPTIONS ARE BASED ON PREMISE FACTS, ALSO CALLED TRIGGER FACTS • THE JUDGE TELLS THE JURY THAT IF THEY FIND FACT X AND FACT Y, THEY MUST (CRIMINAL: MAY) FIND FACT Z • HE ONLY DOES THIS IF THERE IS NO EVIDENCE TENDING TO REBUT FACT Z Chap. 10 -- Presumptions

6. EXAMPLE OF CIVIL PRESUMPTION • TRIGGER FACTS: • MARRIAGE • CHILD BORN DURING THE MARRIAGE • PRESUMED FACT: HUSBAND IS THE CHILD’S FATHER • JUDGE WILL STATE THE PRESUMPTION IF THERE IS NO EVIDENCE TENDING TO REBUT HUSBAND’S PATERNITY Chap. 10 -- Presumptions

7. ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF CIVIL PRESUMPTION • TRIGGER FACTS : • WORK WAS DONE BY A CIVIL SERVANT • IN HER CAPACITY AS GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE (RATHER THAN AS PRIVATE CITIZEN) • PRESUMED FACT: WORK WAS DONE PROPERLY • WILL BE STATED IF NO REBUTTAL Chap. 10 -- Presumptions

8. HOW THE CIVIL PRESUMPTION WORKS IN COURT • THE PARTY CLAIMING THE BENEFIT OF THE PRESUMPTION ASKS FOR AN INSTRUCTION ABOUT IT • THE JUDGE THEN EVALUATES ANY EVIDENCE IN THE RECORD CONTROVERTING THE PRESUMED FACT Chap. 10 -- Presumptions

9. IF SUBSTANTIAL EV. CONTRA TO THE PRESUMED FACT IS IN THE RECORD (E.G., HUSBAND WAS NOT THE FATHER – DNA; NON-ACCESS; OTHER MEN) : • PRESUMPTION VANISHES • JUDGE SAYS NOTHING • REFUSES THE INSTRUCTION • JURY DECIDES CASE IN THE USUAL WAY Chap. 10 -- Presumptions

10. IF CONFLICTING EVIDENCE ON THE TRIGGER FACTS: • JUDGE INSTRUCTS CONDITIONALLY. E.G., “IF YOU FIND THERE WAS A MARRIAGE BETWEEN H AND Y, AND IF YOU FIND THAT THE CHILD WAS BORN DURING IT, YOU MUST FIND H WAS THE FATHER” [ASSUMING NO REBUTTAL] Chap. 10 -- Presumptions

11. HOW A PERMISSIBLE INFERENCE WORKS • THE JUDGE SAYS AS PART OF THE FINAL CHARGE TO THE JURY: “IF YOU FIND X AND Y, YOU MAY CONCLUDE Z.” Chap. 10 -- Presumptions

12. IF THERE IS NO EVIDENCE SUFFICIENT TO SUPPORT A FINDING ON THE PREMISE FACTS, THERE IS NO INFERENCE TO BE TALKED ABOUT • CASE GOES TO THE JURY IN THE USUAL WAY Chap. 10 -- Presumptions

13. EXAMPLES OF PERMISSIVE INFERENCES • TRIGGER: UNEXPLAINED POSSESSION OF STOLEN PROPERTY • INFERENCE: POSSESSOR STOLE IT • TRIGGER: LEAVING RESTAURANT WITHOUT PAYING • INFERENCE: INTENTION TO EVADE PAYMENT Chap. 10 -- Presumptions

14. MINORITY VIEW ON PRESUMPTION’S EFFECT • SHIFTS THE BURDEN TO THE PARTY AGAINST WHOM THE PRESUMPTION WORKS • JUDGE INFORMS THE JURY WHERE THE BURDEN LIES • CONTROVERTING EVIDENCE DOES NOT DESTROY THE PRESUMPTION Chap. 10 -- Presumptions

15. IN CRIMINAL CASES • PRESUMPTIONS AND PERMISSIBLE INFERENCES ARE HANDLED IN THE SAME WAY: • IF PREMISE FACTS ARE RAISED BY THE EVIDENCE, THE JUDGE SAYS IN THE FINAL INSTRUCTIONS: “IF YOU FIND X AND Y, YOU MAY CONCLUDE Z” Chap. 10 -- Presumptions