Court Opinion

ID: 9663242
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 23:33:04.07158+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:14:47.063547
License: Public Domain

V. J. Brennan, J.
(dissenting). I respectfully dissent from by colleagues’ opinion.
Defendant appeals from his plea. of guilty to probation violation and subsequent probation revocation.
On May 15, 1979, defendant pled guilty before Judge Olsen to the charge of attempted breaking *27and entering an unoccupied building with intent to commit larceny. MCL 750.110; MSA 28.305. On May 30, 1979, he was placed on probation for two years by Judge Olsen.
Subsequently, defendant was charged with the crime of assault with intent to commit murder and possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony. MCL 750.83, 750.227b; MSA 28.278, 28.424(2). The preliminary examination was conducted before Judge Olsen. Thereafter, the case was assigned to Judge Gardner.
On May 7, 1980, defendant appeared before Judge Gardner and, in exchange for a plea and sentence bargain, pled guilty to the reduced charge of assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder and possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony. MCL 750.84, 750.227b; MSA 28.279, 28.424(2). At that hearing, Judge Gardner recognized that a guilty plea would cause defendent to be in violation of his probation. He offered defendant a specific sentence bargain whereby his sentence by the probation violation would run concurrently with the sentence for the felony charge. Defendant accepted the sentence bargain and pled guilty to the assault and felony-firearm charges.
On May 15, 1980, the date set for sentencing in the guilty plea to the assault and felony:firearm charges, defendant acknowledged that this guilty plea placed him in violation of his probation. He waived the proffered revocation hearing and pled guilty to probation violation. Thereafter, the court imposed the previously agreed upon sentence to be served concurrently. The record is clear that at no time during either the plea hearings or sentence hearing did defendant voice any objection to Judge Gardner’s conducting the hearings, accepting the *28plea to probation violation or imposing the sentences.
On appeal, defendant argues that his plea of guilty to probation violation must be set aside because the original trial judge (Judge Olsen) or his successor did not conduct the proceeding to determine the revocation of his probation. Defendant contends that both case law, court rule and statute mandate that probation violation matters must be heard by the original trial judge or his successor.
Presently, there is a split of authority as to this issue. One panel of the Court has held that a probation violation matter should be heard before the original judge who granted probation; in his absence, a successor of the trial judge must hear and determine the matter. People v Biondo, 76 Mich App 155, 160; 256 NW2d 60 (1977).
Conversely, another panel of this Court has held that neither statute nor court rule supports the claimed right that the revocation proceeding be conducted before the same judge who initially ordered probation. People v Collins, 25 Mich App 609, 611; 181 NW2d 601 (1970).
However, on this record, it is unnecessary to decide the correctness of either position since defendant failed to bring a motion to disqualify the assigned judge from conducting the proceeding or accepting the guilty plea to probation violation. In absence of a motion to disqualify or an objection placed on the record, I find no error in another judge accepting a guilty plea to probation violation. Further, I find that no prejudice flowed to the defendant from the procedure since the record reveals that the defendant was eager to take advantage of the concurrent sentencing.
In a busy criminal court, such as Recorder’s *29Court, such accommodations are necessary. The judges of that court work closely in these matters where there are multiple charges pending involving one defenant. In order to dispose of all these pending cases, they are usually assigned to a particular judge for disposition if pleas are offered. Then the entire sentence picture, including possible probation violation penalties, is discussed.
Next, defendant complains that he was not informed of his right to confront and cross-examine adverse witnesses at a probation violation hearing. Defendant argues that the court committed error by not so advising him before it accepted his plea of guilty to probation violation. I am unpersuaded. Defendant is not entitled to the full panoply of rights set forth in GCR 1963, 785.7 before a court can accept a plea for probation violation. The record is clear that defendant was told of his right to a hearing for the probation violation. The defendant stated on the record that he was waiving the hearing. Further, defendant admitted he was guilty of committing the underlying felony forming the basis of the probation revocation. On this record, defendant’s due process challenge is without merit. People v Hardin, 70 Mich App 204, 208; 245 NW2d 566 (1976).
I would affirm.