Case Name: In re MAFFETT
Court: Michigan Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Michigan
Decision Date: 1943-01-04
Citations: 304 Mich. 173
Docket Number: Calendar No. 42,217
Parties: In re MAFFETT.
Judges: Boyles, C. J., and North, Starr, Wiest, Btjtzel, Btjshnell, and Sharpe. JJ., concurred.
Reporter: Michigan Reports
Volume: 304
Pages: 173–175

Head Matter:
In re MAFFETT.
Insane Persons — Commitment—Eeeble-Minded Minor — Statutes.
Commitment to a State institution of a minor who had been adjudged a feeble-minded person by probate court solely on the certificates of two doctors who had examined him was a nullity where no inquest was instituted, no proofs taken nor full investigation of the facts made as required by pertinent statute (2 Comp. Laws 1929, § 6888, as amended by Act No. 104, Pub. Acts 1937),
Habeas corpus proceeding by Mary Ann Maffett •with accompanying certiorari to John McClellan, Ingham Probate Judge, to obtain release of Leon Maffett from Lapeer State Home & Training School.
Submitted December 18, 1942.
(Calendar No. 42,217.)
Petitioner ordered released January 4, 1943.
Dwight L. Wilson, for petitioner.
Herbert J. RusMon, Attorney General, and Edmund E. Shepherd, Solicitor General, for defendant.

Opinion:
Chandler, J.
On January 17, 1941, one Leon Maffett, then about 14 years of age, was adjudged by the probate court for the county of Ingham a feeble-minded person, and on the 5th day of August of the same year was admitted, on the commitment of said court, to the Lapeer State Home & Training School at Lapeer, Michigan, and is still a patient in said institution.
On October 23, 1942, we issued, on the petition of Mary Ann Maffett, mother and natural guardian of said Leon Maffett, a writ of habeas corpus to inquire into the cause of said minor's detention in said institution, and in response to an ancillary writ of certiorari we have the record of the proceedings of the probate court for said county of Ingham, which resulted in his commitment, before us. The record shows that said minor was adjudged a feeble-minded person solely on the certificates of two doctors who examined him and that no other proofs were taken.
In view of the recommendation filed by the attorney general of this State in reply to said petition and the brief of petitioner, we find it unnecessary to detail the facts or to enter into any discussion of the issue involved. Said memorandum is as follows :
"The facts in this case are identical with those involved in the case of In re Miller, 303 Mich. 81.
"No inquest was instituted, nor proofs taken, and the original order of commitment is a nullity. In re Myrtle Davis, 277 Mich. 88.
"See, also, In re Ryan, 291 Mich. 673; In re Gordon, 301 Mich. 224; In re Clifford,, 303 Mich. 84.
"The attorney general has no other alternative than to confess error in the case at bar. ' '
From our examination of the record in the instant case and of the case of In re Miller, 303 Mich. 81, we find the facts involved to be as nearly identical as two cases could possibly be.
We said in the Miller Case, supra:
"The statute (2 Comp. Laws 1929, §6888, as amended by Act No. 104, Pub. Acts 1937 [Comp. Laws Supp. 1940, § 6888, Stat. Ann. 1940 Cum. Supp. § 14.811]) requires the institution of an inquest, the taking of proofs and a full investigation of the facts. This was not done and the original order of commitment is a nullity. In re Myrtle Davis, 277 Mich. 88. See, also, In re Ryan, 291 Mich. 673, and In re Gordon, 301 Mich. 224.
"The original order of commitment being a nullity, any subsequent order based thereon is also a nullity. '
"The attorney general and the prosecuting attorney state that in their opinion the petitioner should be released. An order may be entered releasing the petitioner."
We therefore hold that an order must be entered here granting the prayer of the petitioner for the release of her ward Leon Maffett. It is so ordered.
Boyles, C. J., and North, Starr, Wiest, Btjtzel, Btjshnell, and Sharpe. JJ., concurred.