Court Opinion

ID: 2060125
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-10-30 08:12:37.824003+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T10:24:27.908614
License: Public Domain

46 Mich. App. 630 (1973)
208 N.W.2d 581
PEOPLE
v.
PURDY
PEOPLE
v.
JOHNSON
Docket Nos. 14414-14415.
Michigan Court of Appeals.
Decided April 25, 1973.
Frank J. Kelley, Attorney General, Robert A. Derengoski, Solicitor General, William L. Cahalan, Prosecuting Attorney, Dominick R. Carnovale, Chief, Appellate Department, and Arthur N. Bishop, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for the people.
Robert W. Stern, for defendant Purdy on appeal.
*632 Barry E. Solomon, for defendant Johnson on appeal.
Before: LESINSKI, C.J., and R.B. BURNS and V.J. BRENNAN, JJ.
LESINSKI, C.J.
On March 6, 1972 defendants Purdy and Johnson pleaded guilty to assault with intent to rob being armed in Detroit Recorder's Court. MCLA 750.89; MSA 28.284. Both defendants now appeal their convictions by right alleging that the trial court did not inform them of their right to confront their accusers. Defendants' allegations are sound, and therefore we reverse.
An examination of the guilty plea transcript reveals the following exchange between the trial judge and the defendants with regard to their right of confrontation:
"The Court: Do you know that if you had a trial you wouldn't have to go [to] trial alone. You could go to trial with your lawyer and he could help you in a lot of ways. He could question the witnesses for you and subpoena witnesses in your behalf. Did you know about that, Mr. Purdy?
"Mr. Purdy: Yes.
"The Court: He can make legal arguments for you and argue your case to the jury and give you advice and help you in a lot of ways. Do you understand that, Mr. Johnson?
"Mr. Johnson: Yes.
"The Court: Do you Mr. Purdy?
"Mr. Purdy: Yes."
This Court has held the above language is not sufficient to inform a defendant of his right to confront his accusers. People v D'Argis, 44 Mich. App. 186 (1972). Accordingly, we must reverse each defendant's conviction and remand for a new trial.
*633 We also note that the trial judge examined each defendant's juvenile record at sentencing. In view of our reversal of the convictions we do not consider this assignment of error. See People v McFarlin, 41 Mich. App. 116 (1972); People v Chappell, 44 Mich. App. 204 (1972).
The issue is now before the Supreme Court. Leave was granted in McFarlin, supra, August 8, 1972. Thus, on remand, if defendants should again be found guilty, the trial court should abide by the decision of the Supreme Court on the use of juvenile records at sentencing.
Reversed and remanded.
R.B. BURNS, J., concurred.
V.J. BRENNAN, J. (dissenting).
The defendants herein pled guilty before a Detroit Recorder's Court judge to the offense of assault with intent to rob being armed (MCLA 750.89; MSA 28.284) an included offense to the original charge against them of robbery armed. This plea was taken on March 6, 1972; from that plea both defendants appeal claiming they were not properly advised of various rights at the time of the plea, more particularly, their right to examine their accusers.
I cannot concur in my brothers' opinion; I would affirm the conviction.
I have examined the 22 pages of plea transcript in this matter. The plea was very carefully and methodically taken by the trial judge. The defendants had their attorney present; the court asked them, among other things, whether or not they understood what a jury trial was and they answered in the affirmative. The court asked them if they ever had an opportunity to observe a jury trial in progress and they answered in the affirmative; *634 not only had they observed them, they had participated as witnesses. Defendants further pointed out that they had some experience themselves with trials and courts in that they had had previous police records.
The court in its very direct and intensive examination, which was in question and answer form, explained that many cases which are tried before a jury result in acquittals. They explained to the judge, step by step, their part in this crime. After this entire discourse, the court again asked the defendants if they still wished to plead guilty at which time they answered yes.
But, more particularly, in answer to their claim of error, the court asked the defendants if they knew that they or their lawyers could question the witnesses and whether or not they knew they could subpoena witnesses on their own behalf. They answered yes to both parts of that question.
I don't think a blackboard with drawings is necessary to point out to defendants who are represented by able counsel that when the court advised them that they and their counsel may examine witnesses that this means in effect accusers. It must be clear to all involved, especially those with experience in the courts, as these defendants were, that accusers are witnesses and accusers have to be witnesses. I am afraid that my colleagues have attempted a play on semantics in allowing these two armed robbers' release by a very, very technical reading of the cases and rules.
The defendants also cite as error the court's use of their juvenile records before imposing sentence. I have written to this in the past and my position has been clearly stated, which is, briefly, that I feel a sentencing judge needs to know the entire character and personality of an individual he is *635 attempting to place under some supervisory control for possible rehabilitation. See People v Luster, 44 Mich. App. 38 (1972).