Court Opinion

ID: 9688582
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 17:57:10.859039+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:18:40.450548
License: Public Domain

Levin, J.
{concurring'),.. I concur in Judge Burns’ "opinion reversing defendant’s conviction and granting him a- new trial. I write separately - because I think we are also obligated to consider and decide the défendant’s. claim that the. trial court1 erred when it denied his motion'to suppress the marijuana seized in his automobile.
At the new trial,., the., admissibility of the marijuana is a. question “which is boimd to arise again. Accordingly, we should now decide that question.2 If the marijuana is-inadmissible, then the defendant, who'has already spent over a year in jail, is .entitled to have thai evidence excluded at his new t-fjal;;' He should not 'bq réquiredjpossibly to spend silli -another year o‘r so in jail.'before we reach and dqcide this'meritorious question.3
.•.%.#he Constitutions of the United-States and of this prohibit violation of the right of the people tq^becusecure against’ “unreasonable” searches and seizures. US Const, Am- 4, a,n.d Const 1963, art 1, § 11. u.The people’s brief makes no claim that the search1 and seizure oí the marijuana was “reasonable”. At the outset of the people’s oral' argument in our,, Court, the .assistant prosecuting attorney *550conceded that the search and seizure was unreasonable. The people, nevertheless, defend the seareh and seizure of the marijuana claiming that while it was obtained as the result of an unreasonable search and seizure, it is admissible because of the proviso in the Michigan constitution which excepts narcotics and certain dangerous weapons seized outside the curtilage of a dwelling4 from the rule of law (the so-called “exclusionary rule”) which makes illegally seized evidence inadmissible at trial.
However, in Mapp v. Ohio (1961), 367 US 643 (81 S Ct 1684, 6 L Ed 2d 1081, 84 ALR2d 933), the United States Supreme Court declared that the exclusionary rule, devised to implement the Fourth Amendment’s prohibition of unreasonable searches *551and seizures, applies to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment.5 This means that, as to both state and federal trials, the Fourth Amendment and the exclusionary rule are “the supreme law of the land; and the judges in every state shall be bound thereby, any thing in the constitution or laws of any state to the contrary notwithstanding.” US Const, art 6, § 2.
The people’s argument in this case, in essence, is that, despite the just-quoted supremacy clause, Michigan is free to modify the governing federal constitutional guarantee.
It has been suggested that support for this novel proposition can be found in certain language used by the United States Supreme Court in Ker v. California (1963), 374 US 23 (83 S Ct 1623, 10 L Ed 2d 726).6 However, the pertinent portion of the Ker *552opinion concluded with tbe observations that the-Court did not intend to imply any (p 34) “derogation of uniformity in applying federal constitutional guarantees” and that it was deciding the case in’ the application of the “federal constitutional stand-1 ard.”
Any doubt that there is but one applicable stand-, ard, namely, the federal standard, was dispelled by Malloy v. Hogan (1964), 378 US 1 (84 S Ct 1489, 12 L Ed 2d 653). In that case the United States' Supreme. Court observed that it had held that the guarantees of the First Amendment, the. prohibition of unreasonable searches and seizures of the Fourth Amendment (citing Ker v. California) and the right' to counsel guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment (p 10)' “are all to be enforced against the states under the Fourteenth Amendment according to the same standards that protect those personal rights against federal encroachment. * * * The Qour£ thug has' rejected the .notion that the Fourteenth Amendment applies to the states only a ‘watered-down, subjective version ofi the individual guarantees of the Bill of Rights’.’* Similarly, see Aguilar v. Texas (1964), 378 US 108, 110 (84 S Ct 1509, 1512, 12 L Ed 2d 723); People v. Wolfe (1967), 5 Mich App 543, 550; People v. McDonald (1968), 13 Mich App 226.
*553Also relevant in our consideration of the constitutionality of the Michigan proviso making a distinction between searches within and outside the curtilage of a dwelling is the shift in emphasis in the application of the constitutional right to be protected against warrantless, unreasonable searches from the protection- of places to the protection of individual privacy.7
“We have recognized that the principal object of the Fourth Amendment is the protection of privacy rather than property, and have increasingly discarded fictional and procedural barriers rested on property concepts.” Warden, Maryland Penitentiary v. Hayden (1967), 387 US 294, 304 (87 S Ct 1642, 18 L Ed 2d 782).
. t, I know of no case holding that Mapp does not govern in all 50 states or which allows Michigan to exempt itself from Mapp8—no case that is except some decisions of our Court which, with respect for my colleagues, I do not think we should continue to follow.
In the post-Mapp case of People v. Monroe (1966), 3 Mich App 165, 168,9 a panel of our Court *554stated- that the Michigan constitutional provision “as interpreted by People v. Winkle (1960), 358 Mich 551 [made] it * * * unnecessary to decide whether the search was reasonable or unreasonable.”
Later, in People v. Vanlandingham (1967), 6 Mich App 128, another panel of our Court adopted the holding of People v. Monroe and went on to say that the Monroe Court cited the pre-Mapp, 1960 Winkle case reported at 358 Mich 551 instead of the post-Mapp 1964 Winkle case of In re Winkle (1964), 372 Mich 292, cert. den. 379 US 645 (85 S Ct 611, 12 L Ed 2d 551), reh. den. 380 US 967 (85 S Ct 1102, 14 L Ed 2d 157), because the second Winkle case was decided without an opinion signed by a majority of the Michigan Supreme Court. The Vanlandingham Court further observed that, although the second Winkle case was decided by the Michigan Supreme Court after Mapp was decided by the United States Supreme Court, certiorari had been refused by the United States Supreme Court to review the second Winkle case.10
People v. Dillon (1967), 7 Mich App 256, without recitation of the facts, stated that People v. Monroe required affirmance of Dillon’s conviction and (p 257) “obviates discussion” of the lawfulness of his arrest.11
*555Since Monroe is based upon -the first Winkle case, decided before Mapp, it - is not persuasive. While the first Winkle case upheld the validity of the proviso to the Michigan constitutional provision, manifestly that case, decided before Mapp was decided, is. not authority for the constitutionality of the proviso after Mapp.
The question of whether Mapp supersedes the Michigan proviso has .been presented to the Michigan Supreme Court in a number of cases but has never been decided by a majority of the Court.
In People v. Harper (1962), 365 Mich 494, which was decided after the first Winkle case, a unanimous Court found that the search of Harper’s automobile was reasonable and stated that (p 502) “having reached the conclusion we have, the effect of Mapp on section 10 of article 2 of our constitution will have to be left for determination in another case at another time.”
In the second Winkle case there were three separate opinions. Justice Kelly, in an opinion in which Justice O’Hara joined, ruled that the search was reasonable, that Mapp does not apply retrospectively12 and that Mapp does not supersede the Michigan proviso. Justice Dethmers, in one opin*556ion, and Justice Souris, in an opinion in which Justices Kavanagh and Smith joined, held that the search was reasonable and that there was no need to consider the questions of retrospectivity or continued viability of the proviso. Justice Black concurred in the result and Justice Adams did not participate in the decision.
In People v. Blessing (1966), 378 Mich 51, cert. den. (1967) 387 US 914 (87 S Ct 1692, 18 L Ed 2d 637), again there were several opinions. Justice Kelly, in an opinion in which Justice O’Hara joined, again found both that the search was reasonable and that Mapp did not supersede the Michigan proviso. Justice Adams, in an opinion also signed by Justices Dethmers and Smith, ruled that the search was reasonable and did not advert to the question of the continued federal constitutionality of the Michigan proviso. Justice Souris dissented in an opinion joined by Justice Kavanagh, stating that the search was unreasonable and that, since decision in Mapp v. Ohio, the Michigan proviso was no longer constitutional.
The Souris opinion in Blessing placed reliance on People v. Lee (1963), 371 Mich 563, where a unanimous Michigan Supreme Court held inadmissible narcotics seized in an automobile. In Lee, the issue of the post-Mapp constitutionality of the proviso was argued in the briefs, but the opinion of the Court made no reference to the proviso, nor did it discuss the effect of Mapp. This caused Justice O’Hara, the author of the Lee opinion, to file a separate opinion in Blessing (p 68) confessing error in Lee. Justice Black concurred in the affirmance of Blessing’s conviction stating that the “time had come” to join with Justice Kelly in holding the Michigan proviso constitutional. He observed that the United States Supreme Court had *557had several opportunities to strike down the proviso hut had not done so.
It is apparent from the foregoing history that a majority of the Michigan Supreme Court has not yet been mustered to declare whether Mapp does or does not supersede the proviso. Thus, there is no controlling opinion of the Michigan Supreme Court. The opinions of our Court are all based on People v. Monroe which, in turn, was predicated on the pre-Mapp case of People v. Winkle, supra.
The failure of the United States Supreme Court to decide the question by review of the Winkle and Blessing cases is perfectly understandable. Winkle did not seek direct review by certiorari of the first Winkle case. His subsequent application for habeas corpus relief was denied by the Michigan Supreme Court on April 26, 1961. The United States Supreme Court granted certiorari to review that denial. After Mapp was decided, the judgment of the Michigan Supreme Court denying Winkle habeas corpus relief was vacated by the United States Supreme Court “and, as suggested by the attorney general of Michigan,” the case was remanded for reconsideration in the light of Mapp.13 This led to the second Winkle case of In re Winkle, supra. Since the second Winkle case {In re Winkle)14 and Blessing were both decided by the Michigan Supreme Court on the ground that the search was reasonable, which made it unnecessary to consider whether Mapp superseded the proviso, it is entirely understandable that the United States Supreme Court declined to grant certiorari to review those decisions.
*558Furthermore, it is axiomatic that the denial of leave to appeal or certiorari imports no expression of opinion upon the merits of the case. See Frishett v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (1967), 378 Mich 733, which adopted the views of Justice Holmes as stated in United States v. Carver (1923), 260 US 482, 490 (43 S Ct 181, 67 L Ed 364).
The concept that Michigan is free to enact, whether in its constitution, or in some other form, an exception to the federal exclusionary rule made applicable by Mapp to all 50 states in the union, is palpably erroneous and clearly wrong. It is our duty to deny it further credence and we should unhesitatingly say so. It is unseemly that Michigan litigants find it necessary to seek the protection of the federal courts for vindication of rights enjoyed without question by all in the other 49 states.15 I would hold, on the authority of Mapp v. Ohio, that the proviso to the Michigan constitution violates- the Federal Constitution.

 See Hill v. Harbor Steel & Supply Corporation (1965); 374 Mich 194, 206, per Souris, J., three justices concurring; People v. Lane (1942), 304 Mich 29, 34, 35; State v. McCreary. (SD, 1966), 142 NW2d 240, 246; Clifton v. United States (CA 5, 1965), 341 F2d 649, 651; Rivers v. United States (CA 5, 1968), 400 F2d 935 942.

 If the marijuana evidence is excluded, the defendant'is-more likely, to be. acquitted at the new trial; indeed, without this evi-> den'ce, there ■ may be insufficient •. evidence to convict him.

 The provision which made admissible any firearm, etc. or other dangerous weapon seized outside the curtilage of a dwelling house without regard to whether a warrant was obtained or the reasonableness of the seareh was adopted in 1936 (proposed as JR 2, PA 1935, p 468, and first adopted at the general election in 1936, PA 1937, p 876). The amendment adding narcotic drugs to the list was first adopted in 1952 (proposed as JR 1, PA 1952, p 479 and adopted at the general election in 1952, PA 1953, p 438).
In the 1961 Michigan Constitutional Convention there was extended consideration and much difference of opinion among the delegates concerning the retention of the 1936 and 1952 amendments. Those delegates who desired their retention ultimately prevailed. See Official Record, Constitutional Convention 1961, pp 467, 489, 493, 496, 497, 507, 508, 511 and 514 of Vol 1, and pp 2859, 2860, 2885, 2924, 3094, 3095, 3098 and 3255 of Vol 2.
The address to the people states that the 1963 provision makes no change in the 1908 provision (Const 1908, art 2, § 10) “except for improvement in phraseology.”
The presently applicable Michigan constitutional provision reads:
“The person, houses, papers and possessions of every person shall be secure from unreasonable searches and seizures. Ño warrant to seareh any plaee or to seize any person or things shall issue without describing them, nor without probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation. The provisions of this section shall not he construed to har from evidence in any criminal proceeding any narcotic drug, firearm, homh, explosive or any other dangerous weapon, seized hy a peace officer outside the curtilage of any dwelling house in this state.” [Emphasis supplied.] Const 1963, art 1, § 11.
The first two sentences of the 1963 constitutional provision paraphrase the Fourth Amendment. The third sentence is a rewording of the amendments adopted by the people in 1936 and 1952 that modified the pertinent provision of the 1908 constitution.

 In Wolf v Colorado (1949), 338 US 25, 27 (69 S Ct 1359, 93 L Ed 1782), the United States Supreme Court declared that the “security of one’s privacy against arbitrary intrusion by the police— which is the core of the Fourth Amendment — is basic to a free society * * * and as such enforceable against the states through the Due Process Clause,” but refused to apply to the states the exelusionary rule previously fashioned for federal prosecutions in Weeks v. United States (1914), 232 US 383 (34 S Ct 341, 58 L Ed 652, LRA1915B 834, Ann Cas 1915C 1177). In the post-Weeks, pre-Wolf case of People v. Marxhausen (1919), 204 Mich 559, the Michigan Supreme Court adopted the exclusionary rule.

 In Ker, the Court stated that (supra, p 31) “Mapp sounded no death knell for our federalism” and that (p 34) “The states are not thereby precluded from developing workable rules governing arrests, searches and seizures to meet ‘the practical demands of effective criminal investigation and law enforcement’ in the states.” But these statements were qualified by other statements in the same-opinion. The Court stated that both federal and state authorities have a (p 31) “mutual obligation to respeet the same fundamental criteria in their approaches” and that (p 33) “the standard of reasonableness is the same under the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments” (emphasis in original), and that the right of the states to develop workable rules governing arrests, searches and seizures is subject to the limitation that the rules so developed (p 34) “do not violate the constitutional proscription of unreasonable searches and seizures and the concomitant command that evidence so seized is inadmissible against one who has standing to complain.” (Emphasis supplied.)
*552■ Nor is there any room for a distinction based on the facts tlikt the articles seized in Mapp were not as deadly as can be nareojicá or weapons and the seizure in Mapp occurred in the accused perjson’s home. The United States Supreme Court, has recognized .'the applicability of Mapp in a case where it was alleged that a searcli and seizure of narcotics outside the curtilage of a honie was jiíireasonable. See McCray v. Illinois (1967), 386 US 300, 301, 3X5 (87 S Ct 1056, 18 L Ed 2d 62), reh den 386-US 1042 (87 S Ct 147|; 18 L Ed 2d 616), where, although the search was held reasonable) both the majority and dissenting opinions cited Mapp as governing authority. Similarly, see Cooper v. California (1967), 386 US 58 (87 S Ct 788, 17. L Ed 2d 730), rehearing and .modification denied 386 US 988 (87 S'Ct 1283, 18 L’Ed 2d 243), where the Federal standard was applied in holding that the search of an automobile was reasonable.

 Katz v. United States (1967), 389 US 347 (88 S Ct 507, 19 L Ed 2d 576); People v. Zeigler (1960), 358 Mich 355, 363, 365.

 It appears that Michigan and South Dakota are the only states which have had constitutional or statutory provisions modifying the exclusionary rule. See Table II, Appendix to Elkins v. United States (1960), 364 US 206, 226 (80 S Ct 1437, 1449, 4 L Ed 2d 1669, 1683). The’ South "Dakota Supreme Court held its statute partially constitutional and partially unconstitutional in the pre-Mapp case of State v. Lane (1957), 76 SD 544 (82 NW2d 286). In the post-Mopp case of State v. McCreary (SD, 1966), 142 NW2d 240, 247, the South Dakota Supreme Court held its statute totally unconstitutional.
• Commentators have concluded that the Michigan exception to the exclusionary rules violates the Federal constitution as interpreted in Mapp. Nord, The Michigan Constitution of 1963, 10 Wayne L Rev 309 (1963, 1964); Wise, 1966 Annual Survey of Michigan Law, 13 Wayne L Rev 114, 135, 136; Quick, 1961 Annual Survey of Michigan Law, 8 Wayne L Rev 77, 82.

 In Monroe the search and seizure occurred in 1963, 2 years after Mapp was decided.

 The fact that there was no majority opinion (and thus no precedential opinion) in the second Winkle case explains the failure of the United State Supreme Court to grant certiorari and is a reason for reexamining Monroe, not a reason for following it.

 In People v. Henderson (1967), 6 Mich App 379, 384, still another panel of our Court referred to the 2 Winkle opinions and also stated that Mapp v. Ohio, supra, had not changed the special treatment of automobiles under the search and seizure provision of the Federal constitution. Clearly, as stated by the United State Supreme Court in Dyke v. Taylor Implement Mfg. Co. (1968), 391 US 221 (88 S Ct 1472, 20 L Ed 2d 538), in the application of the standard of reasonableness “automobiles, because of their mobility, may be searched .without a warrant upon facts not justifying a warrantless search of a residence or office.” Similarly, see Cooper v. California, *555supra. But, in the case now before us, no question of reasonableness is presented; tlie people have conceded that the search here was unreasonable.
In People v. Dombrowski (1968), 10 Mich App 445, and People v. Johnnie Mae Jones (1968), 12 Mich App 369, 379, the items seized were not of the kind covered by the Michigan proviso. In Dombrowski the seized items were grocery bags; in Johnnie Mae Jones it was a crowbar. On that ground, Dombrowski distinguished Monroe and held it inapplicable. In both Dombrowski (p 449) and Johnnie Mae Jones (p 379) the Court stated that a warrant is ordinarily required before a valid search can be made unless the articles are of a kind admissible without a warrant. This allusion to the Michigan proviso was unnecessary to decision in either case and, hence-, dietum. In neither case did the Court rely on Monroe or discuss the issue dealt with in this opinion.

 So held in Linkletter v. Walker (1965), 381 US 618 (85 S Ct 1731, 14 L Ed 2d 601).

 Winkle v. Bannan (1961), 368 US 34 (82 S Ct 146, 7 L Ed 2d 91).

 Moreover, under Linkletter (see fn 12), which had been argued before rehearing was denied in the second Winkle ease, Winkle was not entitled to relief because his eonvietion had become final before Mapp was decided.

 In Winkle v. Kropp (ED Mich 1968), 279 F Supp 532, reversed on other grounds (CA 6, 1968), 403 F2d 661, the court held that the Michigan exception is violative of the Fourth Amendment. Similarly see Lucas v. State of Michigan (ED Mich #31412 [not officially reported]), currently on appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.