Court Opinion

ID: 9574004
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 21:01:22.259047+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:43:54.343289
License: Public Domain

Williams, J.
(concurring). I concur with my Sister Coleman’s opinion and have signed it. However, I wish to note that as GCR 1963, 785.7(3)(d) provides, a nolo contendere plea specifically differs from a guilty plea in that "the court shall not interrogate the defendant regarding his or her participation in the crime. However, the court may not accept a plea of nolo contendere unless there has been or the judge thereupon conducts a hearing establishing substantial support for a finding that the defendant is in fact guilty of the charged offense or the offense to which he is offering the plea * * * .” This subsection permits the use of the record of the preliminary hearing and the judge is left to find from it, and any further testimony there may be, whether "the defendant is in fact guilty of the charged offense or the offense to which he is offering the plea”. In contrast GCR 1963, 785.7(3)(b) and (c) specifically require personal interrogation of the defendant by the court in the case of a guilty plea.