776
Souter, J., concurring in judgment
of the old tradition to the extent of eliminating the criminal suicide prohibitions. Respondents do not argue that the State's decision goes further, to imply that the State has repudiated any legitimate claim to discourage suicide or to limit its encouragement. The reasons for the decriminalization, after all, may have had more to do with difficulties of law enforcement than with a shift in the value ascribed to
(1910)). In 1975, the Washington Legislature repealed these provisions, see Wash. Crim. Code, 1975, ch. 260, § 9A.92.010 (213-217), 1975 Wash. Laws 817, 858, 866, and enacted the ban on assisting suicide at issue in this case, see Wash. Crim. Code, 1975, ch. 260, § 9A.36.060, 1975 Wash. Laws 817, 836, codified at Rev. Wash. Code § 9A.36.060 (1977). The decriminalization of attempted suicide reflected the view that a person compelled to attempt it should not be punished if the attempt proved unsuccessful. See Compassion in Dying v. Washington, 850 F. Supp. 1454, 1464, n. 9 (WD Wash. 1994) (citing Legislative Council Judiciary Committee, Report on the Revised Washington Criminal Code 153 (Dec. 3, 1970).
14 Numerous States have enacted statutes prohibiting assisting a suicide. See, e. g., Alaska Stat. Ann. § 11.41.120(a)(2) (1996); Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 13-1103(A)(3) (Supp. 1996-1997); Ark. Code Ann. § 5-10-104(a)(2) (1993); Cal. Penal Code Ann. § 401 (West 1988); Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-3-104(1)(b) (Supp. 1996); Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-56(a)(2) (1997); Del. Code Ann., Tit. 11, § 645 (1995); Fla. Stat. § 782.08 (1991); Ga. Code Ann. § 16-5-5(b) (1996); Haw. Rev. Stat. § 707-702(1)(b) (1993); Ill. Comp. Stat., ch. 720, § 5/12-31 (1993); Ind. Code §§ 35-42-1-2 to 35-42-1-2.5 (1994 and Supp. 1996); Iowa Code Ann. § 707A.2 (West Supp. 1997); Kan. Stat. Ann. § 21-3406 (1995); Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 216.302 (Michie 1994); La. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 14:32.12 (West Supp. 1997); Me. Rev. Stat. Ann., Tit. 17-A, § 204 (1983); Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 752.1027 (West Supp. 1997-1998); Minn. Stat. § 609.215 (1996); Miss. Code Ann. § 97-3-49 (1994); Mo. Rev. Stat. § 565.023.1(2) (1994); Mont. Code Ann. § 45-5-105 (1995); Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-307 (1995); N. H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 630:4 (1996); N. J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:11-6 (West 1995); N. M. Stat. Ann. § 30-2-4 (1996); N. Y. Penal Law § 120.30 (McKinney 1987); N. D. Cent. Code § 12.1-16-04 (Supp. 1995); Okla. Stat., Tit. 21, §§ 813-815 (1983); Ore. Rev. Stat. § 163.125(1)(b) (1991); Pa. Stat. Ann., Tit. 18, § 2505 (Purdon 1983); R. I. Gen. Laws §§ 11-60-1 through 11-60-5 (Supp. 1996); S. D. Codified Laws § 22-16-37 (1988); Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-216 (Supp. 1996); Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 22.08 (1994); Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.36.060 (1994); Wis. Stat. § 940.12 (1993-1994). See also P. R. Laws Ann., Tit. 33, § 4009 (1984).
Page: Index Previous 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 NextLast modified: October 4, 2007