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§ 7.122 iii. Malice

 
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The mental state of malice is often considered to constitute a crime of moral turpitude.  In relatively minor offenses, however, the malice requirement may not be sufficient to render the offense to be one involving moral turpitude.  The Ninth Circuit in a malicious mischief case rejected the INS argument that if a statute requires an “evil intent, wish, or design to vex, annoy, or injure another person,” then the crime necessarily involves moral turpitude.[999]


[999] Rodriguez-Herrera v. INS, 52 F.3d 238, 240 (9th Cir. 1995) (Washington conviction of malicious mischief in violation of RCW § 9A.04.110(12) held not to involve moral turpitude, since “malice can be inferred if the act is merely ‘wrongfully done without just cause or excuse.’”).

 

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