Court Opinion

ID: 7957190
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-09-09 00:19:21.174084+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:34:18.601084
License: Public Domain

Per Curiam.
Defendant was tried by jury on tbe charge of robbery armed and found guilty on February 10,1970. On March 3,1970, he was sentenced to a term of 5 to 20 years imprisonment by Judge Henry Heading of the Recorder’s Court. By order dated May 26, 1970, Judge Heading granted defendant’s timely motion for the appointment of appellate counsel. Counsel filed a claim of appeal within 60 days thereafter.
The only issue advanced in support of this appeal is whether this Court should grant the appellant a new trial on the basis of an affidavit submitted here which presumably qualifies as newly-discovered evidence. The people have filed a motion to affirm the conviction and sentence.
The defendant contends that he was precluded from filing a motion for new trial in the lower court because of the requirement contained in MCLA § 770.2 (Stat Ann 1954 Rev § 28.1099), “motions for new trials shall be made within 30 days after verdict”. Therefore, it is argued, this Court must consider the motion on appeal.
Although the time allowing motions for new trial as a matter of right has expiréd, the statute which sets out the time period is not jurisdictional. The defendant is not precluded from filing an application for leave to move for a new trial pursuant to MCLA § 770.1 (Stat Ann 1954 Rev § 28.1098). This Court has previously stated that it will not substitute its judgment for that of the trial court. Since the issue has not been raised in the lower court it is not properly before us now. See People v. Thomas (1968), 10 Mich App 693. The motion to affirm is granted.