Court Opinion

ID: 9678955
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 06:37:21.593737+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:17:09.098392
License: Public Domain

Burns, J.
(dissenting in part). I must dissent. GCR 1963, 785.3 states:
“Arraignment and Sentencing. In every prosecution wherein the accused is charged with a felony, the trial court shall conform to the following practice:
“(1) Arraignment. If the accused is not represented by counsel upon arraignment, before he is required to plead, the court shall advise the accused that he is entitled to a trial by jury and to have counsel, and that in case he is financially unable to provide counsel the court will, if accused so requests, appoint counsel for him. If the accused states he will procure counsel or requests that counsel be appointed, a reasonable time thereafter shall be allowed for counsel to consult with the accused before his plea shall be taken.
*468' “(2) Imposing Sentence. If the accused pleads guilty, after such plea and before sentence the court shall inform the accused of the nature of the accusation and the consequence of his plea; and regardless of whether he is represented by counsel, the court shall examine the accused, not necessarily under oath, and as a condition of accepting the plea of guilty and imposing sentence shall ascertain that the plea was freely, understandingly, and voluntarily made, without undue influence, compulsion, or duress, and without promise of leniency. Unless the court determines that the plea of guilty was so made, it shall not be accepted.” (Emphasis supplied.)
‘ The rule states the procedure the trial court must follow when the accused is not represented by counsel. It requires the judge to tell the accused that he' is entitled to a trial by jury and to have counsel. It also mandates the court to inform the accused of the nature of the accusation and the consequence of his plea. All of these duties follow the phrase, “not represented by counsel,” and precede the phrase, “regardless of whether he is represented by counsel.” The only duty imposed upon the court when the accused is represented by counsel is to .examine the defendant to ascertain if his plea is freely, understandingly and voluntarily made.
The phraseology of this rule reflects the intention of the Supreme Court to leave the traditional function of advising an accused with his counsel, who, as an officer of the court,* should be held to impart his knowledge of the law to his client.
Both of the defendants in the present case were represented by counsel at the arraignment. Under the above interpretation the circuit judge complied with the rule when arraigning the defendant Totty but failed to comply with the rule when arraigning *469the defendant Cooper. Therefore, as to defendant' Totty, I would affirm the trial court, but as to the defendant Cooper, I would' reverse the cause and remand for a new trial.

 CLS 1961, § 600.901 (Stat Ann 1962 Rev § 27A.901).