State v. Ward

BRANCH, Chief Justice.

We first consider the Court of Appeals’ reversal of defendant’s conviction because of the trial court judge’s instruction on defendant’s burden of proof on the issue of insanity. On that issue the trial court judge gave the following instruction: “He [defendant] must prove defendant’s insanity to you to your reasonable satisfaction.” [Emphasis added.]

Defendant contends and the Court of Appeals agreed that the standard of “reasonable satisfaction” imposes a heavier burden on defendant than the proper “satisfaction” standard. Defendant argues that to uphold this conviction…