North Dakota Code 12.1-04.1-18 – Form of verdict or finding
If the issue of lack of criminal responsibility is submitted to the trier of fact:
Terms Used In North Dakota Code 12.1-04.1-18
- Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
- Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
- Verdict: The decision of a petit jury or a judge.
- verdict: includes not only the verdict of a jury, but also the finding upon the facts of a judge or of a master appointed to determine the issues in a cause. See North Dakota Code 1-01-41
1. In a unitary trial, the trier of fact must first determine whether the prosecuting attorney has proven that the defendant committed the crime charged. In a bifurcated trial, the trier of fact must first determine whether the prosecuting attorney has proven that the defendant committed the crime charged and, if so, whether the defendant is criminally responsible. Each determination must be made at the conclusion of the phase of the trial at which the respective issue is tried. If the trier of fact concludes that the prosecuting attorney failed to prove that the defendant committed the crime charged, the appropriate verdict or finding is “not guilty”.
2. If the trier of fact determines that the defendant committed the crime charged and the defendant was criminally responsible for that crime, the appropriate verdict or finding is “guilty”.
3. If the trier of fact determines that the defendant committed the crime charged, but was not criminally responsible for that crime, the appropriate verdict or finding is a statement that the defendant committed the crime charged but that the defendant is “not guilty by reason of lack of criminal responsibility”.