DiPENTIMA, C.J.
The defendant, David Paul Legrand, appeals from the judgment of conviction, following a court trial, of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs in violation of General Statutes § 14-227a, failure to keep a narcotic drug in the original container in violation of General Statutes § 21a-257 and being a repeat offender pursuant to General Statutes § 14-227a (g)(2). On appeal, the defendant claims that (1) the use by the state of a subpoena, rather than a search warrant, to obtain his medical records violated his federal and state constitutional rights, (2) the trial court improperly found that his medical records were not privileged statutorily, (3) there was insufficient evidence to support his conviction under General Statutes § 21a-257 and (4) General Statutes § 21a-257 is unconstitutionally vague as applied to his conduct. We are not persuaded and, accordingly, affirm the judgment of conviction.
In an oral decision, the court found the following facts. On May 18, 2007, the defendant operated a motor vehicle in an erratic manner in South Windsor. A police officer observed the defendant as he failed to obey a stop sign, followed another vehicle too closely and swerved into a lane of oncoming traffic. The officer then effectuated a stop of the defendant. The defendant claimed that his erratic driving was the result of attempting to locate a cellular telephone that he had dropped on the floor of his vehicle. While speaking to the defendant, the officer noticed his slurred speech.
The police officers conducted a search of the defendant's vehicle and discovered seven pills in the center console. The defendant admitted that he had been carrying the pills in his pocket and that he placed the pills, five of which were narcotics, in the console. At the police station, the defendant stated that he was physically unable to provide a urine sample.
In its decision, the court addressed the defense that any narcotics in his system did not have an intoxicating effect because he had become stabilized and tolerant of the medications. In support of this theory, the defendant presented the testimony of Herbert Reiher, his treating physician and an expert regarding the effect of the defendant's medication on his ability to operate a motor vehicle safely, and Howard Mendelson, a clinical pharmacologist and physician.
Both Reiher and Mendelson testified that the narcotics taken by the defendant would not have affected his ability to operate a motor vehicle safely if he had been taking the medications for longer than one month, was stabilized on the medications and had been taking the medications as prescribed. The court noted that it did not credit much of Reiher's testimony, specifically, that the defendant was stabilized on medications and that he was taking them as prescribed as of the date of the motor vehicle incident. "In fact, the court finds that Dr. Reiher's testimony, in conjunction with the other established facts in the case, demonstrates precisely the opposite conclusion, that the defendant was in fact abusing the medications."
In support of this finding, the court pointed to the evidence that the defendant had attempted to obtain early refills, he twice had reported his narcotic medication had been stolen and, when he requested a change from the generic to a name brand narcotic, he failed to return most of the unused generic brand. Additionally, the court found that at the time of his arrest, the defendant was carrying quantities of medication that he would not have needed for a short trip out for something to eat. The court expressly found that the defendant "was not taking his medication as prescribed, but was in fact taking them in excess of the amounts prescribed."
Although the court did credit most, if not all, of Mendelson's testimony regarding the disappearance of the intoxicating effect of narcotics when taken properly, it noted that "this [phenomenon] does not occur if the patient takes the medications in amounts above those prescribed. . . ." Because Mendelson neither treated the defendant nor reviewed his medical records, he could not opine on whether the defendant was stabilized on the medications or
The court found the defendant guilty of violating § 14-227a and § 21a-257. The defendant then admitted to being a subsequent offender. The court sentenced the defendant to a total of two years incarceration, suspended after 200 days, and three years of probation.
The defendant first claims that the state's use of a subpoena, rather than a search warrant, violated his federal and state constitutional rights. Specifically, he argues that the state seized his medical records in violation of the fourth amendment to the United States constitution and article first, § 7, of the Connecticut constitution. We are not persuaded.
On August 5, 2008, the state served a subpoena on Reiher seeking both his presence and "all medical records of treatment and medications for [the defendant] from [January 1, 2007, to August 1, 2008]." As a preliminary matter, the prosecutor indicated that he had subpoenaed Reiher, whom he expected to testify on behalf of the defense. With respect to the medical records that had been subpoenaed and delivered under seal to the court clerk, the prosecutor requested that they be unsealed in anticipation of Reiher's testimony.
Defense counsel indicated that he had been unaware of the state's subpoena. He did not consent to disclosing the defendant's medical records, although he did agree to allow Reiher to testify only once, rather than being called by each party. Defense counsel then noted that the defendant had not waived his right to privacy under either federal law or the medical privilege regarding the prescriptions used by Reiher in treatment. In a discussion with the court, defense counsel indicated that he was unsure as to whether psychiatric records were included in the medical records submitted by Reiher.
The prosecutor stated that through the defendant's responses to the state's discovery requests,
Defense counsel indicated that neither he nor the defendant had been contacted by Reiher prior to his complying with the subpoena. The court inquired whether the medical records were confidential. Defense counsel argued first that he was unsure as to the scope of the records sought by the state's subpoena. Defense counsel suggested that the time period of January through May, 2007, would be relevant
When asked by the court, defense counsel stated that the defendant would not consent to an in camera review. Defense counsel argued that he did not know precisely what records had been submitted by Reiher and requested that a different judge review the materials.
The court ordered the medical records turned over to both the state and defense. It further ordered that they not be disclosed beyond the proceeding to a third party except as necessary to develop a claim in the case or to address an evidentiary or factual issue. The court then explained the rationale for its ruling. "My ruling is based upon a lack of sufficient showing by the defendant that the records contained therein are privileged in this proceeding. I've heard no—I've been given no authority that the state is not entitled to these records in light of the fact that one of the defendant's witnesses is going to testify as to the defendant's tolerance to certain medications. Obviously, that's going to be a critical issue in this case. And medical records that involve the defendant's medications, what types of medication he had been prescribed, for [how] long he has been prescribed those medications—it seemed to me it would be plainly relevant to some of the factual issues in this case. Accordingly, I'm ordering that they be disclosed."
Later that day, defense counsel indicated that he had discovered that certain psychological reports had been included in the materials furnished by Reiher. These records were returned to the court. The next day, the court noted that some of the records contained psychiatric information pertaining to the defendant, as well as documentation of some emergency room visits that occurred prior to his arrest. The court further noted that defense counsel had raised an objection on the basis of the patient-psychiatrist privilege. The court, after receiving the defendant's consent, conducted an in camera review of these specific records and, with a few exceptions, determined that the materials should be turned over to the state.
Defense counsel then stated that although the state's subpoena had requested the defendant's medical records from January 1, 2007, to August 1, 2008, Reiher had included eight to nine years of medical records. Additionally, for the first time, defense counsel argued that a warrant was necessary to obtain these records. The court responded that the state had made a sufficient showing to permit the general disclosure of medical records from January 1, 2006, to August, 2008.
On appeal, the defendant claims that a warrant was required to seize the defendant's medical records
For the purposes of our discussion, we assume, without deciding, that the state seized the medical records
We begin our analysis of this issue of first impression with the text of the fourth amendment to the United States constitution, which provides: "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized." The purpose of this amendment is to constrain intrusions that are not justified in the circumstances or those made in an improper manner; it does not protect against all intrusions. State v. Mubita, 145 Idaho 925, 932, 188 P.3d 867 (2008). Our Supreme Court has explained that the fourth amendment protects against the unreasonable seizure of an individual's property. Fleming v. Bridgeport, 284 Conn. 502, 520, 935 A.2d 126 (2007). "[T]o state a constitutional violation, the [party claiming such a violation] must allege (1) [the state actor's] conduct constituted a seizure, and (2) the seizure, if one occurred, was unreasonable. . . . If a seizure has occurred, then the court must engage in a complex inquiry to determine whether that seizure was reasonable." (Citations omitted; internal quotation marks omitted.) Id.
"With regard to the reasonableness requirement, [i]n the ordinary case, the [Supreme] Court has viewed a seizure of personal property as per se unreasonable within the meaning of the [f]ourth [a]mendment unless it is accomplished pursuant to a judicial warrant issued upon probable cause and particularly describing the items to be seized. . . . The Supreme Court has nonetheless made it clear that there are exceptions to the warrant requirement. When faced with special law enforcement needs, diminished expectations of privacy, minimal intrusions, or the like, the [c]ourt has found that certain general, or individual, circumstances may render a warrantless search or seizure reasonable." (Citation omitted; emphasis added; internal quotation marks omitted.) Id., at 520-21, 935 A.2d 126.
In Oklahoma Press Publishing Co. v. Walling, 327 U.S. 186, 208, 66 S.Ct. 494, 90 L.Ed. 614 (1946), the United States Supreme Court determined that, with respect to a subpoena, corporate records or papers were protected under the fourth amendment only against unreasonable disclosures. See also California Bankers Assn. v. Shultz, 416 U.S. 21, 67, 94 S.Ct. 1494, 39 L.Ed.2d 812 (1974); 2 W. LaFave, Search and Seizure (4th Ed.2004) § 4.13(a), p. 823. In See v. Seattle, 387 U.S. 541, 544, 87 S.Ct. 1737, 18 L.Ed.2d 943 (1967), the
It is clear, therefore, that for the purposes of a fourth amendment analysis, the use of a subpoena may, in the proper circumstances, be reasonable and therefore not violate the fourth amendment. It is helpful at this point to explain certain key differences between a search warrant and a subpoena. In distinguishing the two, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit stated: "A warrant is a judicial authorization to a law enforcement officer to search or seize persons or things. To preserve advantages of speed and surprise, the order is issued without prior notice and is executed, often by force, with an unannounced and unanticipated physical intrusion. . . . Because this intrusion is both an immediate and substantial invasion of privacy, a warrant may be issued only by a judicial officer upon a demonstration of probable cause—the safeguard required by the Fourth Amendment.. . . The demonstration of probable cause to a neutral judicial office places a checkpoint between the Government and the citizen where there otherwise would be no judicial supervision. . . . A subpoena, on the other hand, commences an adversary process during which the person served with the subpoena may challenge it in court before complying with its demands.. . . As judicial process is afforded before any intrusion occurs, the proposed intrusion is regulated by, and its justification derives from, that process. . . . In short, the immediacy and intrusiveness of a search and seizure conducted pursuant to a warrant demand the safeguard of demonstrating probable cause to a neutral judicial officer before the warrant issues, whereas the issuance of a subpoena initiates an adversary process that can command the production of documents and things only after judicial process is afforded." (Citations omitted; emphasis added; internal quotation marks omitted.) In re Subpoena Duces Tecum, 228 F.3d 341, 348 (4th Cir.2000); see also Farrall v. State, 902 So.2d 820, 821 (Fla.App.2004) (warrant requires higher threshold of proof and as result, no notice or hearing required); King v. State, 276 Ga. 126, 128-29, 577 S.E.2d 764 (2003) (because of higher procedural safeguards to obtain warrant, defendant not entitled to notice and hearing). In this case, because the state used a subpoena rather than a warrant, there are no immediate or intrusive concerns requiring a showing of probable cause before a detached neutral magistrate.
Relying on these precedents, other courts have applied the reasonableness standard to subpoenas issued by, inter alia,
In the case of In re Subpoena Duces Tecum, supra, 228 F.3d at 341, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit considered a subpoena issued by the government in connection with an investigation into federal health care offenses. Id., at 343-44. The District Court had denied, in part, the motion to quash filed by the physician and the health care corporation. Id., at 344. The Fourth Circuit first noted the statutory authority for the subpoenas. Id., at 346. It then stated that "[t]he subpoena power—the authority to command persons to appear and testify or to produce documents or things—is a longstanding and necessary adjunct to the government power of investigation and inquisition. . . and to the government's duty to provide trials. . . ." (Citations omitted.) Id. Turning to the fourth amendment questions, the court reasoned: "Because a subpoena duces tecum leads to the compulsory production of private papers, a person served with a subpoena duces tecum is entitled to the Fourth Amendment's protection against unreasonableness. . . . But there is no unreasonable search and seizure, when a [subpoena], suitably specific and properly limited in its scope, calls for the production of documents which, as against their lawful owner to whom the writ is directed, the party procuring its issuance is entitled to have produced." (Citation omitted; internal quotation marks omitted.) Id., at 347.
The Fourth Circuit explained that the United States Supreme Court has required that a subpoena be limited in scope, relevant in purpose and specific in directive to ensure that compliance would not be unreasonably burdensome. Id. "This standard, however, cannot be reduced to formula. . . ." (Internal quotation marks omitted.) Id. The Fourth Circuit expressly stated that because subpoenas are not warrants, they do not require probable cause. Id., at 348.
Applying these legal principles to the specific facts and circumstances of the present case, we conclude that the subpoena issued by the prosecutor was reasonable, and therefore did not violate the fourth amendment. As a general rule, we note that "[a] subpoena is an appropriate process for the production of documents that are relevant to the matter before the court." (Internal quotation marks omitted.) State v. Montgomery, 254 Conn. 694, 728, 759 A.2d 995 (2000); see generally Hurley v. Connecticut Co., 118 Conn. 276, 283-84, 172 A. 86 (1934). The subpoena, validly served pursuant to General Statutes § 52-143, commenced a process where Reiher submitted the requested medical records under seal to the court.
We first note that, prior to the records being turned over to the prosecutor, the defendant was afforded an opportunity to object.
We turn next to the question of whether the subpoena itself was reasonable for fourth amendment purposes. The record reveals that at the time of the issuance of the subpoena, a criminal proceeding had been commenced against the defendant. Further, the time frame of the records sought was reasonable and relevant in purpose and specific in directive in light of the charges against the defendant and his anticipated defense. See In re Subpoena Duces Tecum, supra, 228 F.3d at 347. The subpoenaed medical records served as a basis to challenge and impeach the defendant's expert testimony that he was not intoxicated from his narcotic medication because he had grown accustomed to the side effects after using them properly for an extended period of time. This is not a case where the prosecutor attempted to
Turning to the defendant's state constitutional claim, we set forth certain pertinent legal principles regarding our state constitutional jurisprudence. "It is well established that federal constitutional and statutory law establishes a minimum national standard for the exercise of individual rights and does not inhibit state governments from affording higher levels of protection for such rights. . . . Furthermore, although we often rely on the United States Supreme Court's interpretation of the amendments to the constitution of the United States to delineate the boundaries of the protections provided by the constitution of Connecticut, we have also recognized that, in some instances, our state constitution provides protections beyond those provided by the federal constitution, as that document has been interpreted by the United States Supreme Court." (Internal quotation marks omitted.) State v. Jenkins, 298 Conn. 209, 261, 3 A.3d 806 (2010). Put another way, "in a proper case, the law of the land may not, in state constitutional context, also be the law of the state of Connecticut." (Internal quotation marks omitted.) State v. Wade, 297 Conn. 262, 288, 998 A.2d 1114 (2010); see also State v. Kimbro, 197 Conn. 219, 235, 496 A.2d 498 (1985). With respect to article first, § 7, of the state constitution, our Supreme Court has determined that in certain instances, it affords greater protection than the fourth amendment to the United States Constitution. State v. Davis, 283 Conn. 280, 305-306, 929 A.2d 278 (2007).
"In State v. Geisler, [222 Conn. 672, 684-85, 610 A.2d 1225 (1992)] we set forth six factors to be used in analyzing an independent claim under this state's constitution: (1) the text of the operative constitutional provisions; (2) related Connecticut precedents; (3) persuasive relevant federal precedents; (4) persuasive precedents of other state courts; (5) historical insights into the intent of our constitutional forebears; and (6) contemporary understandings of applicable economic and sociological norms, or as otherwise described, relevant public policies." State v. Lockhart, 298 Conn. 537, 546-47, 4 A.3d 1176 (2010).
We begin with the text of article first, § 7, which states: "The people shall be secure in their persons, houses, papers and possessions from unreasonable searches or seizures; and no warrant to search any place, or to seize any person or things, shall issue without describing them as nearly as may be, nor without probable cause supported by oath or affirmation." With respect to the first Geisler factor, our Supreme Court has stated: "[T]his court repeatedly has observed that the language of article first, § 7, of the state constitution closely resembles the language of the fourth amendment to the federal constitution." State v. Davis, supra, 283 Conn. at 306, 929 A.2d 278; see also W. Horton, The Connecticut State Constitution (1993) p. 51 ("there appears to be little textual difference between the state and federal provisions").
With respect to the second, third and fourth Geisler factors, the defendant has failed to establish that relevant Connecticut, federal and sibling state precedent support his claim of greater protection in this case under article first, § 7. In part I A of this opinion, we have discussed many of the federal cases relevant to this issue. Moreover, none of the Connecticut or federal cases cited in the defendant's brief provides direct support for the claim of enhanced protection under article first, § 7.
We note that in State v. Skinner, 10 So.3d 1212, 1219 (La.2009) the Supreme Court of Louisiana concluded that a search warrant was required to obtain an individual's medical and prescription records. In that case, however, the court relied, at least in part, on the explicit right to privacy found in the Louisiana constitution. Id., at 1215; see also La. Const., art. first, § 5 ("[e]very person shall be secure in his person, property, communications, houses, papers, and effects against unreasonable searches, seizures, or invasions or privacy"). Other states have similar explicit constitutional rights to privacy; see Falcon v. Alaska Public Offices Commission, 570 P.2d 469, 476 (Alaska 1977) (discussing article first, § 22, of Alaska constitution providing that "`[t]he right of the people to privacy is recognized and shall not be infringed'"); State v. Dolan, 283 Mont. 245, 257, 940 P.2d 436 (1997) ("medical records requested by the prosecutor are protected by a constitutional right of privacy, as provided by Article II, Section 10, of the Montana Constitution"); or have determined that their implicit state constitutional right to privacy is "far more extensive" than the United States constitution. King v. State, 272 Ga. 788, 789, 535 S.E.2d 492 (2000). Our state constitution does not contain an explicit privacy right and, although our courts occasionally have interpreted article first, § 7, as affording Connecticut citizens with additional protections than the fourth amendment,
The sixth Geisler factor requires an examination of the relevant economic and sociological factors as well as public policy. State v. Lockhart, supra, 298 Conn. at 564, 4 A.3d 1176. The defendant argues that patients are less likely to inform their physicians of medical problems, negatively impacting treatment and that medical procedures often include highly private matters. We conclude, however, that due to the procedures employed by the court in the present case, the defendant's concern of "unfettered exploration" into medical records without prior court approval is unwarranted. As we have noted, the medical records were delivered under seal to the court and not disclosed to the state until after the defendant had an opportunity to raise his objections. Moreover, the court limited the disclosure of the records to those individuals necessary. The court properly balanced the needs of the state with the privacy interests of the defendant. Accordingly, we conclude that the defendant's rights under article first, § 7, of the Connecticut constitution were not violated.
The defendant next claims that the court improperly found that his medical records were not privileged statutorily. Specifically, he argues that disclosure of his medical records violated General Statutes §§ 52-146e and 17a-688. Even if we assume that these statutes were violated, the defendant has failed to carry his burden of showing harm.
During the initial discussion regarding the defendant's medical records, defense counsel argued that certain records would be privileged as psychiatric-psychological records. After reviewing the records supplied by Reiher, defense counsel later indicated to the court that medical records from at least one psychological facility had been turned over to the state. After additional discussion, both on and off the record, the court noted that, with the defendant's consent, it had reviewed the medical records at issue. With a few exceptions, it ruled that the records would be disclosed to the state.
We begin our analysis by setting forth the appropriate standard of review. "The applicable standard of review for evidentiary challenges is well established. We review the trial court's decision to admit evidence, if premised on a correct view of the law . . . for an abuse of discretion. . . . We will make every reasonable presumption in favor of upholding the
"A common law privilege for communications made by a patient to a physician has never been recognized in this state." (Internal quotation marks omitted.) State v. Anderson, 74 Conn.App. 633, 653, 813 A.2d 1039, cert. denied, 263 Conn. 901, 819 A.2d 837 (2003). In Anderson, this court held that the statutory privilege set forth in General Statutes § 52-146o
Even if we were to conclude that the court improperly admitted the defendant's
The defendant next claims that there was insufficient evidence to support his conviction under § 21a-257. Specifically, he argues that the state failed to prove the manner in which the specific narcotics found in the center console of the defendant's vehicle were delivered to the defendant. We disagree.
As a preliminary matter, we set forth the legal principles and standard of review that govern our resolution of this issue. "The standard for reviewing sufficiency of the evidence claims is well settled in this state. . . . [O]ur courts apply a two-prong test. First, we construe the evidence in the light most favorable to sustaining the verdict. Second, we determine whether upon the facts so construed and the inferences reasonably drawn therefrom the [trier of fact] reasonably could have concluded that the cumulative force of the evidence established guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. . . .
"[I]n viewing evidence which could yield contrary inferences, the [trier of fact] is not barred from drawing those inferences consistent with guilt and is not required to draw only those inferences consistent with innocence. The rule is that the [trier of fact's] function is to draw whatever inferences from evidence or facts established by the evidence it deems to be reasonable and logical." (Internal quotation marks omitted.) State v. Jagat, 111 Conn.App. 173, 177, 958 A.2d 206 (2008).
"[A]s we have often noted, proof beyond a reasonable doubt does not mean proof beyond all possible doubt . . . nor does proof beyond a reasonable doubt require acceptance of every hypothesis of innocence posed by the defendant that, had it been found credible by the trier, would have resulted in an acquittal. . . . On appeal, we do not ask whether there is a reasonable view of the evidence that would support a reasonable hypothesis of innocence. We ask, instead, whether there is a reasonable view of the evidence that supports the [trier's] verdict of guilty. . . . Furthermore, [i]n [our] process of review, it does not diminish the probative force of the evidence that it consists, in whole or in part, of evidence that is circumstantial rather than direct. . . . It is not one fact, but the cumulative impact of a multitude of
Section 21a-257 provides in relevant part: "A person to whom or for whose use any narcotic drug has been prescribed, sold or dispensed by a physician, dentist, pharmacist or other person authorized under the provisions of section 21a-248 . . . may lawfully possess it only in the container in which it was delivered to the recipient by the person selling or dispensing the same except as may be authorized by regulations adopted hereunder."
Police Officer Peggy Sue Beech Clouser testified that on the night of his arrest, the defendant stated that the pills located in the center console of the vehicle were prescribed to him.
During cross-examination, Clouser testified that the defendant's parents brought to the police station the prescription medication bottles with the defendant's name and that the pills found in the center console belonged in those bottles. Police Officer Brian Fantry testified that the defendant had told him that the medication found in the center console of his vehicle initially had been in bottles and that the defendant had taken several of them out in order to carry them in the vehicle. Additionally, the defendant's mother, Patricia Legrand, testified that she had received a telephone call from the defendant on May 18, 2007, while he was at the police station. She stated that, after speaking with the defendant, she went to the station with his prescription bottles. She testified that he had received his prescription medications in bottles and, in the past when she had picked up the defendant's medicine, they always had been dispensed in a bottle.
On the basis of this evidence, we conclude that there was sufficient evidence to support the defendant's conviction with respect to § 21a-257. The trial court, as the trier of fact, reasonably could conclude that narcotic pills found in the center console of the defendant's vehicle at the time of his arrest were not in the container in which they were dispensed.
The defendant's final claim is that § 21a-257 is unconstitutionally vague as applied to his conduct in this case.
The defendant first argues that § 21a-257 is unconstitutionally vague as applied due to a lack of notice and arbitrary enforcement. Additionally, he claims that the lack of a scienter requirement in the statute results in it being unconstitutionally vague. We are not persuaded.
The following additional facts are necessary for our discussion. At the start of the trial, the parties stipulated that two of the pills found in the center console of the defendant's vehicle at the time of his arrest were fifteen milligrams of Oxycodone and three were forty milligrams of Oxycodone. Reiher, the defendant's treating physician, testified that Oxycodone is a narcotic pain medicine. He also explained that the forty milligram version of the medication is a "long acting narcotic analgesic" for pain control. Its pain control effect lasted twelve hours, while the effect of the fifteen milligram pill would be four to six hours. Accordingly, the defendant had thirty-six hours worth of a long acting narcotic pain medication and eight to ten hours worth of shorter acting narcotic pain medicine in the center console of his car. Further, one of the police officers testified that the defendant had stated that he had gone out to get something to eat and that, prior to leaving, he had taken his "pain medications. . . ."
After the state rested, the court considered various motions filed by the defendant, including his motion to dismiss on the ground that § 21a-257 is unconstitutionally vague.
"As a preliminary matter, we note that legislative enactments carry with them a strong presumption of constitutionality.. . . A party challenging the constitutionality
"The determination of whether a statutory provision is unconstitutionally vague is a question of law over which we exercise de novo review. . . . In undertaking such review, we are mindful that [a] statute is not void for vagueness unless it clearly and unequivocally is unconstitutional, making every presumption in favor of its validity. . . . To demonstrate that [a statute] is unconstitutionally vague as applied to him, the [defendant] therefore must . . . demonstrate beyond a reasonable doubt that [he] had inadequate notice of what was prohibited or that [he was] the victim of arbitrary and discriminatory enforcement. . . . [T]he void for vagueness doctrine embodies two central precepts: the right to fair warning of the effect of a governing statute . . . and the guarantee against standardless law enforcement.. . . If the meaning of a statute can be fairly ascertained a statute will not be void for vagueness since [m]any statutes will have some inherent vagueness, for [i]n most English words and phrases there lurk uncertainties. . . . References to judicial opinions involving the statute, the common law, legal dictionaries, or treatises may be necessary to ascertain a statute's meaning to determine if it gives fair warning.. . .
"The United States Supreme Court has set forth standards for evaluating vagueness. First, because we assume that man is free to steer between lawful and unlawful conduct, we insist that laws give the person of ordinary intelligence a reasonable opportunity to know what is prohibited, so that he may act accordingly. Vague laws may trap the innocent by not providing fair warning. . . . [A] law forbidding or requiring conduct in terms so vague that men of common intelligence must necessarily guess at its meaning and differ as to its application violates due process of law. . . .
"Second, if arbitrary and discriminatory enforcement is to be prevented, laws must provide explicit standards for those who apply them. A vague law impermissibly delegates basic policy matters to policemen, judges, and juries for resolution on an ad hoc and subjective basis, with the attendant dangers of arbitrary and discriminatory applications. . . . Therefore, a legislature [must] establish minimal guidelines to govern law enforcement." (Citations omitted; internal quotation marks omitted.) State v. Winot, 294 Conn. 753, 758-61, 988 A.2d 188 (2010); see also State v. Scruggs, 279 Conn. 698, 709-10, 905 A.2d 24 (2006).
The defendant specifically disavows any claim that the language of § 21a-257 is unclear.
"We begin our analysis of this claim with the time worn maxim that everyone is presumed to know the law, and that ignorance of the law excuses no one. . . . Those tenets are founded upon public policy and in necessity, and the idea [behind] them is that one's acts must be considered as having been done with knowledge of the law, for otherwise its evasion would be facilitated and the courts burdened with collateral inquiries into the content of men's minds." (Citation omitted; internal quotation marks omitted.) State v. Surette, 90 Conn.App. 177, 182, 876 A.2d 582 (2005); see also State v. Knybel, 281 Conn. 707, 713, 916 A.2d 816 (2007); State v. Kurzatkowski, 119 Conn.App. 556, 566, 988 A.2d 393, cert. denied, 296 Conn. 902, 991 A.2d 1104 (2010).
In State v. Swain, 245 Conn. 442, 718 A.2d 1 (1998), our Supreme Court stated: "While the general rule at common law was that the scienter was a necessary element in the indictment and proof of every crime, and this was followed in regard to statutory crimes, even where the statutory definition did not in terms include it . . . [t]he legislature may, if it so chooses, ignore the common-law concept that criminal acts require the coupling of the evil-meaning mind with the evil-doing hand and may define crimes which depend on no mental element, but consist only of forbidden acts or omissions. . . . Whether or not a statutory crime requires mens rea or scienter as an element of the offense is largely a question of legislative intent to be determined from the general scope of the act and from the nature of the evils to be avoided." (Citation omitted; internal quotation marks omitted.) Id., at 454, 718 A.2d 1; see also State v. Pascucci, 164 Conn. 69, 74, 316 A.2d 750 (1972). Given this jurisprudence, we conclude that § 21a-257 is not unconstitutionally vague despite the lack of intent or knowledge requirement.
The defendant next argues that § 21a-257 is unconstitutionally vague due to the doctrine of desuetude. Specifically, he maintains that he had no notice that his actions were illegal due to the rarity of prosecutions for this offense, and therefore the statute is invalid. We disagree.
In his motion for a judgment of acquittal, the defendant argued that the common law of desuetude applied to this case. He claimed that this doctrine "is based on the notion that a statute that's not used a lot can become vague and, therefore, subject to this kind of challenge [being unconstitutionally void] because it's not generally known that this can be the basis for a criminal charge."
In denying the defendant's motion, the court stated: "And I don't think there's any basis to say, there's nothing in the record that would establish how often the [statute has] been used. I am aware just from conducting a daily [geographical area courthouse] docket that this charge does appear from time to time. And certainly that wouldn't rise to the level of the type of desuetude . . . that [counsel for the defendant] is referring to."
In his argument to both the trial court and on appeal, the defendant cites to a footnote in our decision in State v. Linares, 32 Conn.App. 656, 630 A.2d 1340 (1993), rev'd in part, 232 Conn. 345, 655 A.2d 737 (1995). Specifically, we discussed this doctrine as follows: "The doctrine of desuetude, the concept that a statute may be void because of its lack of use, is founded on the constitutional concept of fairness embodied in federal and state constitutional due process and equal protection clauses.
Even if we were to assume, without deciding, that the Printz test
We acknowledge that there is not a significant amount of reported cases that cite to § 21a-257 or its predecessors. We do note, however, that such cases do exist. See State v. Belanger, 148 Conn. 57, 167 A.2d 245 (1961); State v. Kamel, 115 Conn.App. 338, 972 A.2d 780 (2009); State v. Coccomo, 115 Conn.App. 384, 972 A.2d 757, cert. granted on other grounds, 293 Conn. 909, 978 A.2d 1111 (2009); State v. Liebowitz, 7 Conn.App. 403, 509 A.2d 43 (1986); State v. Anonymous (1971-20), 6 Conn. Cir.Ct. 583, 280 A.2d 816 (1971); State v. Fausel, Superior Court, judicial district of Ansonia-Milford at Milford, Docket No. CR-05-0057485, 2006 WL 4686076 (November 2, 2006), rev'd, 109 Conn.App. 820, 953 A.2d 891, rev'd, 295 Conn. 785, 993 A.2d 455 (2010).
Additionally, the record is devoid of evidence that § 21a-257 has been openly, notoriously and pervasively violated without prosecution for a long period of time or that there has been a conspicuous policy of nonenforcement. The argument of defense counsel is not a substitute for evidence. State v. Santangelo, 205 Conn. 578, 585, 534 A.2d 1175 (1987). Given this austere record, we are unable to apply the doctrine of desuetude to this case. See State v. Linares, supra, 32 Conn.App. at 662 n. 11, 630 A.2d 1340; see also State v. Donley, 216 W.Va. 368, 374, 607 S.E.2d 474 (2004) (court found defendant failed to present sufficient evidence to satisfy Printz test and claim regarding desuetude failed); cf. State v. Blake, 213 W.Va. 656, 660-61, 584 S.E.2d 512 (2003) (sheriff testified that law had never been enforced).
The judgment is affirmed.
In this opinion the other judges concurred.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit expressly has held that records from a substance abuse treatment center fall "within [the] ambit of the Fourth Amendment's protections." Doe v. Broderick, 225 F.3d 440, 450 (4th Cir.2000). Our Supreme Court has concluded that a privacy interest exists in prescription records. State v. Russo, 259 Conn. 436, 460, 790 A.2d 1132, cert. denied, 537 U.S. 879, 123 S.Ct. 79, 154 L.Ed.2d 134 (2002).
"The fact that this case is primarily a case about the defendant's medications obviously implicates the fact that the medications the defendant has been on at certain times are psychotropic in nature. And because they're psychotropic in nature, obviously they are prescribed at least in part for psychiatric reasons, I don't believe that under the circumstances of this case that the state should be precluded from knowing what medications the defendant was on, or how those medications may have been working on the defendant at relevant periods of time."
Reiher's curriculum vitae, which was admitted into evidence, indicated that he has a private practice in the field of internal medicine. It does not indicate how much of his practice, if any, is devoted to the treatment of psychiatric issues. General Statutes § 52-146d (7) defines "[p]sychiatrist" as "a person licensed to practice medicine who devotes a substantial portion of his time to the practice of psychiatry, or a person reasonably believed by the patient to be so qualified." In his brief, the defendant argues that Reiher treated him for a variety of psychiatric issues, including anxiety disorder, insomnia, and depression, and prescribed medications for these medical conditions. As a result, the defendant maintains that there was an objective basis for him to believe that Reiher acted as a psychiatrist pursuant to this statutory definition for purposes of § 52-146e.