constructive possession doctrine (Minnesota) · Go Syfert
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constructive possession doctrine in Minnesota

28 Minnesota opinions name it 2 courts 1975–2024 3 in the last five years

The cases below were cited by Minnesota courts in a sentence that names this issue. Sides come from how each citing opinion treated the case (Syfertize flag on that citation), so a case can appear on both: that is where the law is contested. A red or yellow chip is the case's own overall treatment.

Followed or applied (8)

CaseFollowedCited
State v. Florinegreen
minn · 1975 · cited in 17 Minnesota opinions naming this issue, 1976–2024
2 sentences

2024The constructive-possession doctrine requires a strong inference “that the defendant at one time physically possessed the [ammunition] and did not abandon his possessory interest in the [ammunition] but rather continued to exercise dominion and control over it up to the time of the arrest.” Id. (quoting Florine, 226 N.W.2d at 610 ).

2024The constructive-possession doctrine requires a strong inference “that the defendant at one time physically possessed the [ammunition] and did not abandon his possessory interest in the [ammunition] but rather continued to exercise dominion and control over it up to the time of the arrest.” Id. (quoting Florine, 226 N.W.2d at 610 ).

917
State v. Wileygreen
minn · 1973 · cited in 2 Minnesota opinions naming this issue, 1975–1976
2 sentences

1976See, State v. Wiley, 295 Minn. 411 , 205 N. W. 2d 667 (1973); State v. LaBarre, 292 Minn. 228 , 195 N. W. 2d 435 (1972); State v. Resnick, 287 Minn. 168 , 177 N. W. 2d 418 (1970).” In this case the police found the heroin in a cabinet in the living room of a house which defendant shared with a woman and two children.

1976See, State v. Wiley, 295 Minn. 411 , 205 N. W. 2d 667 (1973); State v. LaBarre, 292 Minn. 228 , 195 N. W. 2d 435 (1972); State v. Resnick, 287 Minn. 168 , 177 N. W. 2d 418 (1970).” In this case the police found the heroin in a cabinet in the living room of a house which defendant shared with a woman and two children.

22
State v. Olsongreen
minn · 1992 · cited in 2 Minnesota opinions naming this issue, 2015–2015
2 sentences

2015In State v. Olson, our supreme court endorsed a multi-factor constructive possession instruction that was almost identical to the one given here. 482 N.W.2d 212 , 216 n.3 (Minn. 1992).

2015For example, in State v. Olson, we held that the trial court’s constructive-possession instruction was improper when it stated that “[t]he presence of a controlled substance in open view in a room ... permits the factfinder to infer knowing possession of the controlled substance by each person in close proximity to the controlled substance.... ” 482 N.W.2d 212, 215 (Minn.1992).

12
State v. Arnoldgreen
minnctapp · 2011 · cited in 1 Minnesota opinions naming this issue, 2016–2016
1 sentence

2016On review of Arnold’s conviction, we emphasized that “[t]he purpose of the constructive-possession doctrine is to include within the possession statute those cases where the state cannot prove actual or physical possession.” Id. at 401 (quotation omitted).

11
State v. Flowersgreen
minn · 2007 · cited in 1 Minnesota opinions naming this issue, 2015–2015
1 sentence

2015We reasoned that such an instruction “was not a balanced instruction on the various relevant factors bearing on the jury’s determination of the disputed possession issue but rather was one which singled out and unfairly emphasized one factor, one piece of the circumstantial evidence, bearing on that determination....” Id. at 216 ; see also State v. Flowers, 734 N.W.2d 239, 261-62 (Minn.2007) (holding that a jury instruction was erroneous because it stated that knowing possession “may be inferred if the firearm was in a place under [the accused’s] exclusive control” but did not “instruct the ju

11
Leake v. Stategreen
minn · 2007 · cited in 1 Minnesota opinions naming this issue, 2014–2014
1 sentence

2014See Leake, 737 N.W.2d at 536 (requiring postconviction petitioner to allege facts that if established would show counsel’s representation fell below an objective standard of reasonableness and that, “but for the errors, the result would have been different”) (quotations omitted)).

11
State v. Denisongreen
minnctapp · 2000 · cited in 1 Minnesota opinions naming this issue, 2001–2001
1 sentence

2001See State v. Denison, 607 N.W.2d 796, 799-800 (Minn.App.2000) (explaining the constructive-possession doctrine), review denied (Minn. June 13, 2000).

11
State v. Lozargreen
minnctapp · 1990 · cited in 1 Minnesota opinions naming this issue, 2000–2000
1 sentence

2000State v. Lozar, 458 N.W.2d 434, 441 (Minn.App.1990), review denied (Minn. Sept. 28, 1990).

11

Distinguished, questioned or overruled (0)

CaseNegativeCited
No negative-treatment citations attached to this issue in Minnesota. Read the followed side critically anyway.

Also cited on this issue (6)

CaseCitedYears
State of Minnesota v. Tommy Salyers, III green
minn · 2015
2 sentences

2015Accordingly, the state relied on the doctrine of constructive possession. [T]he purpose of the constructive-possession doctrine “is to include within the possession statute those cases where the state cannot prove actual or physical possession at the time of arrest but where the inference is strong that the defendant at one time physically possessed the [item] and did not abandon his possessory interest in the [item] but rather continued to exercise dominion and control over it up to the time of the arrest.” 5 Id. (alteration in original) (quoting State v. Florine, 303 Minn. 103, 104-05 , 226

2015Accordingly, the state relied on the doctrine of constructive possession. [T]he purpose of the constructive-possession doctrine “is to include within the possession statute those cases where the state cannot prove actual or physical possession at the time of arrest but where the inference is strong that the defendant at one time physically possessed the [item] and did not abandon his possessory interest in the [item] but rather continued to exercise dominion and control over it up to the time of the arrest.” 5 Id. (alteration in original) (quoting State v. Florine, 303 Minn. 103, 104-05 , 226

42015–2016
State v. Resnick neutral
minn · 1970
2 sentences

1976See, State v. Wiley, 295 Minn. 411 , 205 N. W. 2d 667 (1973); State v. LaBarre, 292 Minn. 228 , 195 N. W. 2d 435 (1972); State v. Resnick, 287 Minn. 168 , 177 N. W. 2d 418 (1970).” In this case the police found the heroin in a cabinet in the living room of a house which defendant shared with a woman and two children.

1976See, State v. Wiley, 295 Minn. 411 , 205 N. W. 2d 667 (1973); State v. LaBarre, 292 Minn. 228 , 195 N. W. 2d 435 (1972); State v. Resnick, 287 Minn. 168 , 177 N. W. 2d 418 (1970).” In this case the police found the heroin in a cabinet in the living room of a house which defendant shared with a woman and two children.

21975–1976
State v. LaBarre green
minn · 1972
2 sentences

1976See, State v. Wiley, 295 Minn. 411 , 205 N. W. 2d 667 (1973); State v. LaBarre, 292 Minn. 228 , 195 N. W. 2d 435 (1972); State v. Resnick, 287 Minn. 168 , 177 N. W. 2d 418 (1970).” In this case the police found the heroin in a cabinet in the living room of a house which defendant shared with a woman and two children.

1976See, State v. Wiley, 295 Minn. 411 , 205 N. W. 2d 667 (1973); State v. LaBarre, 292 Minn. 228 , 195 N. W. 2d 435 (1972); State v. Resnick, 287 Minn. 168 , 177 N. W. 2d 418 (1970).” In this case the police found the heroin in a cabinet in the living room of a house which defendant shared with a woman and two children.

21975–1976
State v. Holliday green
minn · 2008
2 sentences

2023In evaluating the sufficiency of the evidence to sustain a conviction, appellate courts “review criminal bench trials the same as jury trials.” State v. Holliday, 745 N.W.2d 556, 4 Hinton’s brief to this court argues that “the application of the constructive-possession doctrine [is] problematic.” Hinton relies on the following language from Florine: the constructive-possession doctrine applies where the state cannot prove actual possession but “where the inference is strong that the defendant at one time physically possessed the substance and did not abandon his possessory interest in the subs

2023In evaluating the sufficiency of the evidence to sustain a conviction, appellate courts “review criminal bench trials the same as jury trials.” State v. Holliday, 745 N.W.2d 556 , 4 Hinton’s brief to this court argues that “the application of the constructive-possession doctrine [is] problematic.” Hinton relies on the following language from Florine: the constructive-possession doctrine applies where the state cannot prove actual possession but “where the inference is strong that the defendant at one time physically possessed the substance and did not abandon his possessory interest in the sub

12023–2023
State v. Smith green
minnctapp · 2000
1 sentence

2015In addition, because constructive possession may be shared, Smith, 619 N.W.2d at 770 , the phrase “through another person” did not improperly expand liability under the constructive-possession doctrine.

12015–2015
State v. Lee green
minn · 2004
1 sentence

2009State v. Lee, 683 N.W.2d 309 , 316 n. 7 (Minn.2004) (explaining that if the police find the contraband in a place where others have access, the constructive-possession doctrine requires “a strong probability, inferable from the evidence, that the defendant was, at the time, consciously exercising dominion and control over it”).

12009–2009

Statutes the citing opinions construe

MN § Minn. Stat. § 480A.08 (11) MN § Minn. Stat. § 624.713 (8) MN § Minn. Stat. § 152.025 (5) MN § Minn. Stat. § 609.165 (3)

Counted by distinct opinions that both name this issue and are annotated to the section; sections every opinion cites regardless of issue are not filtered here, so read the counts against the total above.

Where else courts name it

MN 28 (1975–2024) NC 22 (1851–2026) PA 18 (1977–2025) IL 16 (1971–2025) NY 13 (1978–2021) MS 12 (1980–2014) CA 9 (1965–2016) IA 8 (1995–2024) DC 8 (1988–2022) WA 6 (1989–2021) IN 5 (1998–2018) MA 5 (2017–2025) OH 5 (2008–2020) AL 5 (1990–1995) AR 4 (1995–2004) FL 3 (2002–2009) OR 3 (2007–2019) UT 3 (2020–2025) TX 3 (1935–1984) VT 2 (1850–1880) NE 2 (1994–1999) VA 2 (2009–2009) LA 2 (1997–2006) NM 2 (2017–2019) CT 2 (2005–2020) NJ 2 (1988–1993) ME 2 (1997–2014)

Opinions by the citing court's state. A doctrine retained in one state and abandoned in another shows up here as a year span that stalls.

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