In re D.F.B. case brief

In re D.F.B. case brief summary
433 N.W.2d 79 (1988)

CASE SYNOPSIS

Appellant juvenile challenged a decision of the Court of Appeals (Minnesota), which reversed a decision of the district court that denied a motion by the State to refer the juvenile for prosecution as an adult.

CASE FACTS
The juvenile, age 16, used an ax to kill his parents and siblings. The district court denied the State's motion to refer the juvenile for prosecution as an adult.

DISCUSSION

• The court of appeals reversed that decision and the court affirmed. 
• It found that the juvenile came forward with evidence bearing both on amenability to treatment and on public safety, with his expert testifying that he was not just of the opinion that the juvenile could be treated successfully, but was also of the opinion that he could be treated in the juvenile court system consistent with the public safety. 

FACTORS

• However, reference was justified in this case because, looking at all of the factors listed in Minn. R. Juv. Ct. 32.05, including the offense with which the juvenile was charged, the manner in which he committed the offense, the interests of society in the outcome of the case, the testimony of the court-appointed psychiatrist suggesting that treatment of the juvenile might be unsuccessful, and the weakness of the defense expert's testimony, the State met its burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence that the juvenile was unamenable to treatment in the juvenile court system consistent with the public safety.

CONCLUSION
The court affirmed the decision of the court of appeals, which reversed the district court's decision denying the motion to refer the juvenile for prosecution as an adult.

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