Court Opinion

ID: 9741349
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 20:54:00.36099+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:24:23.630873
License: Public Domain

M. J. Kelly, P.J.
(dissenting). In People v Elder, 104 Mich App 651; 305 NW2d 563 (1981), I noted in dissent the impossibility of informed consent to a guilty plea where the defendant was not told of the Proposal B, MCL 791.233; MSA 28.2303, consequences of his plea. This failure to inform was even more serious in Elder, because of the defendant’s prior knowledge of the "lifer law” and other information indicating a possible early release. As I view it, this defendant’s lack of knowledge of prior sentence-shortening procedures does not alter the basic premise that a defendant cannot make an understanding guilty plea without first being informed of the effect of Proposal B on his ultimate sentence. GCR 1963, 785.7(l)(d).
The requirement that a defendant be told of the maximum and mandatory minimum sentence consequences of a guilty plea, GCR 1963, 785.7(l)(b), (d), has been consistently enunciated by our Supreme Court. The importance of imparting such information was just underscored by the Court’s adherence to a rule requiring strict compliance with these provisions, People v Jones, 410 Mich 407; 301 NW2d 822 (1981), and mandatory reversal where the lower court does not acquiesce. Guilty Plea Cases, 395 Mich 96; 235 NW2d 132 (1975). Because of the extreme effect of Proposal B on the sentence of a defendant who pleads guilty to one of its enumerated offenses, I cannot agree that an understanding plea can be made without such information. Simply stated, absent an explanation of the effect of Proposal B, a defendant has no knowledge of "the true minimum time” he will serve. People v Mitchell, 102 Mich App 554; 302 NW2d 230 (1980).
*699The lower court herein treated defendant’s motion for new trial as a motion to withdraw his prior guilty plea. I would reverse the trial court’s order denying said motion and remand the case to permit defendant to withdraw his guilty plea.