Case Name: PEOPLE v. WELLS
Court: Michigan Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: Michigan
Decision Date: 1978-04-17
Citations: 82 Mich. App. 543
Docket Number: Docket No. 30547
Parties: PEOPLE v WELLS
Judges: Before: Beasley, P. J., and D. E. Holbrook, Jr. and M. J. Kelly, JJ.
Reporter: Michigan appeals reports; cases decided in the Michigan Court of Appeals.
Volume: 82
Pages: 543–548

Head Matter:
PEOPLE v WELLS
Docket No. 30547.
Submitted November 1, 1977, at Detroit.
Decided April 17, 1978.
Richard L. Wells was convicted of criminal sexual conduct in the second degree, Wayne County Circuit Court, Roman S. Gribbs, J. Defendant appeals. Held:
Questions by a prosecutor, put to a complaining witness, which attempted to convey to the jury that the complainant was more worthy of belief than the defendant because the complainant attended church result in reversible error.
Reversed and remanded.
M. J. Kelly, J., dissented:
Such questions by the prosecutor did not result in manifest injustice to the defendant and, in the absence of any objection by the defendant, his conviction should be affirmed.
Opinion of the Court
1. Witnesses — Criminal Law — Complainant—Religious Beliefs— Church Attendance — Statutes.
Questioning by a prosecutor of a complaining witness which elicited testimony to the effect that because she attended church she knew what it was to take an oath and that her testimony was worthy of belief because she respected that oath constituted an unauthorized inquiry into the complainant’s religious beliefs and was a direct violation of the statute which prohibits questioning a witness in relation to her opinions on religion, either before or after she is sworn (MCLA 600.1436; MSA 27A.1436).
2. Witnesses — Criminal Law — Complainant—Religious Beliefs—
Credibility — Church Attendance — Appeal and Error. Questions put to a complaining witness whereby it appears that the prosecutor was attempting to convey to the jury that the complainant (1) was more worthy of belief than the defendant because the complainant attended church, (2) knew what it was to take an oath and (3) respected that oath because of the church attendance were unwarranted, prejudicial and constituted reversible error where the crucial issue was that of the credibility of the complainant and the defendant; the defendant’s failure to object to such questions does not save the error.
References for Points in Headnotes
[1, 2, 3] 81 Am Jur 2d, Witness §§ 87, 533.
Propriety and prejudicial effect of impeaching witness by reference to religious belief or lack of it. 76 ALR3d 539.
81 Am Jur 2d, Witness §§ 87, 484, 533.
5 Am Jur 2d, Appeal and Error § 549.
Dissent by M. J. Kelly, J.
3. Witnesses — Criminal Law — Complainant—Religious Beliefs— Oath — Statutes.
A prosecutor’s questioning of a complaining witness which elicited testimony that because the complainant attended church she knew what it was to take an oath and that her testimony was worthy of belief because she respected that oath was not a violation of the statute which prohibits questioning a witness as to her religious belief and did not result in manifest injustice to the defendant where the defendant had a fair trial under all the circumstances (MCLA 600.1436; MSA 27A.1436).
4. Appeal and Error — Criminal Law — Failure to Object — Miscarriage of Justice — Statutes.
Reversal on an error which was not objected to at trial is appropriate only where it shall affirmatively appear that the error complained of has resulted in a miscarriage of justice (MCLA 769.26; MSA 28.1096).
Frank J. Kelley, Attorney General, Robert A. Derengoski, Solicitor General, William L. Cahalan, Prosecuting Attorney, Edward R. Wilson, Principal Attorney, Appeals, and Craig L. John, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for the people.
Lawrence Baron, Assistant State Appellate Defender, for defendant on appeal.
Before: Beasley, P. J., and D. E. Holbrook, Jr. and M. J. Kelly, JJ.

Opinion:
D. E. Holbrook, Jr., J.
Defendant was tried by jury and convicted of criminal sexual conduct in the second degree, MCLA 750.520c; MSA 28.788(3). Subsequently sentenced to a prison term of not less than 3 nor more than 15 years, defendant appeals as of right.
Upon trial defendant interposed a consent defense. Review of the trial testimony indicates that there existed a vast disparity between the testimony of the defendant and that of the complainant. It is readily apparent that the verdict of the jury hinged greatly upon whose testimony to believe thereby relegating the crucial issue to that of credibility.
During direct examination of the complainant the prosecutor asked and the complainant answered as follows:
"Q Do you go to church, by the way?
"A Yes.
"Q What church?
"A Christ The Good Shepherd.
"Q Would it be fair to say, then, that you know what it is to take an oath?
"A Yes.
"Q Do you respect that oath?
"A Yes."
By virtue of such testimony, in response to prosecutorial questioning, the complainant in effect testified that because she attended the "Christ The Good Shepherd" church she knew what it was to take an oath and that her testimony was worthy of belief because she respected that oath. Such questioning by the prosecutor, in our opinion, constitutes an unauthorized inquiry into complainant's religious beliefs, which, while not identical, is sufficiently similar to that prohibited in People v Hall, 391 Mich 175; 215 NW2d 166 (1974), People v Bouchee, 400 Mich 253; 253 NW2d 626 (1977), and People v Poteat, 74 Mich App 598; 255 NW2d 1 (1977). Such questions are also in direct violation of MCLA 600.1436; MSA 27A.1436, the pertinent portion of which reads: "No witness may be questioned in relation to his opinions on religion, either before or after he is sworn." We cannot help but find that the prosecutor, in asking the questions that he did, was attempting to unfairly bolster complainant's credibility. We believe such conduct to be totally unwarranted and of the type of influence condemned in Hall, supra, Bouchee, supra, and Poteat, supra.
In essence it appears the prosecutor was attempting to convey to the jury that complainant was more worthy of belief than defendant because she attended church, knew what it was to take an oath and respected that oath because of her church attendance. Hence, implicit in the questions and answers was a conveyance to the jury that complainant had certain religious beliefs and because of such beliefs she knew what it was to tell the truth.
In a case such as this, when the crucial issue is that of credibility, such questions by a prosecutor put to a complaining witness are unwarranted, prejudicial and constitute reversible error. Nor does defendant's failure to object to such questions save the error. People v Hall, supra.
Resolution of the foregoing being dispositive, appellant's issue relating to a remand for resentencing becomes moot and resolution of his remaining allegation of error unnecessary.
Reversed and remanded.
Beasley, P. J., concurred.