Opinion ID: 1828577
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: People of the State of Michigan v Pat Duncan

Text: On October 25, 1970, Pat Duncan, along with 14 other persons, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. On October 28, 1970, over defense counsel's objection, a motion by the prosecutor was granted in recorder's court to adjourn the preliminary examination until November 5, 1970. On November 4, 1970, a Wayne County citizens' grand jury issued an indictment charging the same crimes as were charged in the previous complaint and warrant. The complaint and warrant were dismissed. There was no preliminary examination. Defendants filed a motion to quash the indictment or for a preliminary examination. It was denied. Defendants filed a motion for discovery, including a request for the grand jury testimony. Judge John R. Murphy granted the motion, allowing defense counsel to inspect the grand jury minutes one week prior to trial, and further ordering an in camera inspection of the minutes by the court for an independent determination on the question of probable cause. The prosecutor was granted an emergency leave to appeal from this order by the Court of Appeals. That Court affirmed the part of the discovery order which did not relate to the grand jury testimony but stayed the order as to both uses of the grand jury minutes pending formal decision on that point. The trial court entered a formal order allowing defense counsel to view the grand jury minutes and ordering an in camera inspection by the court to determine whether there was some legal basis in law and fact for the indictments. Another appeal was taken and, on the basis of MCLA 767.19g; MSA 28.959(7) (added by 1970 PA 9); and People v Thompson, 122 Mich 411 (1899), the Court of Appeals held that neither defendants nor the trial judge could see the grand jury transcript prior to trial. People v DeSaussure, 33 Mich App 241 (1971). Pat Duncan's case was severed from the trial of the other defendants on April 30, 1971 because of her physical condition. She was the only defendant to challenge the decision of the Court of Appeals. Her application for leave to appeal was granted by this Court. (385 Mich 786.)