Court Opinion

ID: 9659561
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 21:49:26.640425+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:14:09.406945
License: Public Domain

Danhof, C.J.
(dissenting). I dissent from the *408majority’s reversal of defendant’s third-offender conviction as I do not find the 1977 district court conviction to be constitutionally infirm. The use of the plea-taking form does not invalidate defendant’s conviction, in my view.
The version of DCR 785.4(d) originally proposed by the Supreme Court provided:
"(d) Prior to accepting a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, the court shall personally carry out the following:
"(1) speaking directly to the defendant, the court shall tell him that if his plea is accepted, he will not have a trial of any kind' so he gives up the rights he would have at a trial;
"(2) by questioning the defendant, the court shall
"(A) determine that the plea is voluntary, and
"(B) establish support for a finding that he is guilty of the offense charged.
"The court shall not accept the plea unless it is convinced that the plea is understanding, voluntary, and accurate.”
The language providing that the court shall "personally carry out the following” was deleted prior to the enactment of the rule. DCR 785.4(d) is thus substantially different from GCR 1963, 785.7, which requires: "the court shall personally carry out subrules 785.7(l)-(4).” The difference in the two rules, especially considering the fact that the "personally carry out” language was considered for DCR 785.4(d) and abandoned, leads me to conclude that the district court rule does not require oral explanation by the judge of the rights defendant is waiving by pleading guilty.
Defendant relies upon DCR 785.3 in his argument that the judge is required to inform defendant orally of his rights under subsection 785.4(d). Subsection 785.3 requires:
*409"Unless a writing is permitted, a verbatim record of the proceedings before a judge under subrules 785.4 to 785.6 must be made.”
I interpret subsection 785.3 to require that a record be made of a defendant’s arraignment and sentencing in district court.
For purposes of review of an arraignment or sentencing, a complete record is necessary, either by recording spoken words or by including written forms in the court file. DCR 785.3 was not violated here, as the written form received and signed by defendant is included in the court file.
I am in agreement with the reasoning expressed in this Court’s opinion in People v Smith, 98 Mich App 58; 296 NW2d 183 (1980). In Smith, the Court examined the purpose behind GCR 1963, 785.7(d), as expressed by the Supreme Court in Guilty Plea Cases, 395 Mich 96, 122; 235 NW2d 132 (1975):
" 'The primary purpose of subsection (d) is to impress on the accused that by his plea of guilty he waives his right to a trial. If it appears on the record that this purpose has been achieved, the omission of one or another of these rights, other than a Jaworski right, or the imprecise recital of any such right, including a Jaworski right, does not necessarily require reversal.
" 'On appeal the issue is whether it appears on the record that the defendant was informed of such constitutional rights and incidents of a trial as reasonably to warrant the conclusion that he understood what a trial is and that by pleading guilty he was knowingly and voluntarily giving up his right to a trial and such rights and incidents.’ ” Smith, supra, p 60.
See also People v Lockett, 111 Mich App 405, 409; 314 NW2d 640 (1981), rev’d 413 Mich 868 (1982) (Danhof, C.J., dissenting). In my view, the primary purpose of DCR 785.4(d) was met here. Defendant *410was given a comprehensive, clearly written form which explained all the rights inherent in the trial which would be waived by a plea of guilty.
The circumstances of defendant’s 1977 conviction particularly persuade me that defendant was properly informed of his rights prior to pleading guilty. At a hearing on September 6, 1977, defendant was arraigned, his guilty plea was accepted, and sentence was pronounced by the district court judge. DCR 785.4(a) requires that a defendant be informed at arraignment of:
"(1) the name of the offense charged;
"(2) the maximum sentence permitted by law;
"(3) the mandatory minimum sentence, if any; and
"(4) his right
"(A) to the assistance of a lawyer and to a trial;
"(B) (if subrule 785.4[b] applies) to an appointed lawyer; and
"(C) (unless he is charged under an ordinance that does not correspond to a criminal statute or permit a jail sentence) to a trial by jury.”
The final sentence of subsection (a) provides: "The information may be given in a writing that is made a part of the file, or by the court on the record.” Defendant here was given the above information in written form. At the same proceeding, the judge then asked defendant if he wished the rights form to be read to him. Defendant declined. The following colloquy then occurred:
"The Court: All right. As I indicated the maximum penalty is 90 days — or is one year in jail, and/or $1000.00 fine. Have you read the right’s form?
"Mr. Tallieu: Yes, sir.
"The Court: Sign it and date it, to show that you’ve read and understand it. Do you have any questions?
"Mr. Tallieu: No, sir.
*411"The Court: Understanding these things, are you prepared to enter a plea, and if so, what is your plea?
"Mr. Tallieu: Guilty.
"The Court: You’re pleading guilty because in fact, you are guilty?
"Mr. Tallieu: Yes, sir.
"The Court: No one has promised you anything, or threatened you in any manner, or coerced you to get you to enter the plea?
"Mr. Tallieu: No, sir.”
The judge then went on to establish a factual basis for defendant’s plea. The record indicates that defendant was advised of his rights and was given ample opportunity to question the court regarding any misunderstanding he may have had. I find no error in the district court proceeding and would affirm defendant’s third-offender conviction.