People v. Tabarez Case Brief
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Case Brief Summary & Legal Analysis
tl;dr: A defendant charged with attempted murder of a police officer sought a jury instruction on the affirmative defense of extreme emotional disturbance (EED). The court held that EED can apply to attempted murder and that the defendant’s evidence of psychological issues met the threshold for the instruction.
Legal Significance: This case establishes that the affirmative defense of extreme emotional disturbance (EED) applies to attempted murder in New York. It also clarifies the low evidentiary threshold required for a defendant to be entitled to a jury instruction on the defense, even when the act follows another felony.
People v. Tabarez Law School Study Guide
Use this case brief structure for your own legal analysis. Focus on the IRAC methodology to excel in law school exams and cold calls.
Case Facts & Court Holding
Key Facts & Case Background
The defendant, who had been unemployed for nine months, robbed a liquor store. After leaving, he wandered aimlessly before being confronted by a police officer. When the officer ordered him to stop, the defendant turned and fired a shot, later stating he was “just scared.” After firing, he resumed walking until surrounded by more officers. At trial for attempted murder, the defense presented expert psychiatric testimony that the defendant had an IQ of 66, schizophrenia, and several personality disorders. The expert opined that the defendant had become increasingly depressed and that the shooting was a “spontaneous” and “isolated explosive episode” resulting from “great emotional stress.” The expert attributed this stress not only to the robbery but also to pre-existing, non-culpable factors like his prolonged unemployment, fragile personality, and the residual effects of a childhood illness. The trial court denied the defendant’s request for a jury instruction on the affirmative defense of extreme emotional disturbance (EED).
Court Holding & Legal Precedent
Issue: Did the trial court err by refusing to instruct the jury on the affirmative defense of extreme emotional disturbance for a charge of attempted murder when the defendant presented evidence of pre-existing psychological conditions and stressors separate from the underlying felony?
Yes. The trial court’s refusal to give the requested jury instruction was Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut lab
IRAC Legal Analysis
About IRAC analysis
IRAC (Issue, Rule, Analysis, Conclusion) is the structure professors expect in exam answers. Each LSD.Law brief states the issue, the governing rule with citations, the court's application of that rule, and the conclusion - the same reasoning pattern you will use on exams and in practice.
Legal Issue
Did the trial court err by refusing to instruct the jury on the affirmative defense of extreme emotional disturbance for a charge of attempted murder when the defendant presented evidence of pre-existing psychological conditions and stressors separate from the underlying felony?
Conclusion
This case significantly broadened the application of the EED defense in New Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exer
Legal Rule
The affirmative defense of extreme emotional disturbance (EED), as defined in N.Y. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim v
Legal Analysis
The court's analysis proceeded in two parts. First, applying principles of statutory Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore
Flash-to-Full Case Opinions
Flash Summary
- The affirmative defense of extreme emotional disturbance (EED) applies to attempted