Case ID: mich_498/html/0908-05.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Summary Disposition October 30, 2015:
    
    People v Lyles,
    No. 150040; Court of Appeals No. 315323.
   On October 14, 2015, the Court heard oral argument on the application for leave to appeal the July 22, 2014 judgment of the Court of Appeals. On order of the Court, the application is again considered. MCR 7.305(H)(1). In lieu of granting leave to appeal, we vacate the Court of Appeals judgment and we remand this case to that court.

The Court of Appeals panel correctly stated that “[Reversal for failure to provide a jury instruction requested by a defendant is unwarranted unless it appears that it is more probable than not that the error was outcome determinative.” People v Lyles, unpublished opinion per curiam of the Court of Appeals, issued July 22, 2014 (Docket No. 315023), p 4, citing People v McKinney, 258 Mich App 157, 163 (2003); MCL 769.26. However, the panel below did not clearly apply that standard. Instead, the panel cited several older cases from this Court that antedated our current harmless error standard for the proposition that a trial court’s failure to give a requested and appropriate character evidence instruction “has been repeatedly held as error requiring reversal.” Lyles, unpub op at 5.

None of these cases applied our current harmless error standard interpreting MCL 769.26, which holds that a “miscarriage of justice” occurs where it “ ‘affirmatively appearfe]’ that it is more probable than not that the error was outcome determinative.” People v Lukity, 460 Mich 484, 496 (1999). The Court of Appeals panel erred in relying on cases that did not apply the current standard in holding that a miscarriage of justice occurred in this case. On remand, we direct the Court of Appeals to apply our governing standard to the defendant’s claim for relief. We do not retain jurisdiction.