Court Opinion

ID: 9852414
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 05:30:07.484726+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:22:27.607932
License: Public Domain

N. J. Kaufman, J.
(concurring), I concur in the result reached in the majority opinion. However, the conduct of the prosecutor in questioning the defendant should not pass without comment.1 In *668the well-reasoned opinion of People v Ianniello, 21 NY2d 418, 425; 288 NYS2d 462; 235 NE2d 439 (1968), the court stated:
"Whenever a witness demands to see his lawyer for counselling concerning his legal rights (as opposed to mere strategic advice), he should be given an opportunity to do so.”
Pennsylvania has also recognized the right of a witness to consult with his attorney, but balances that right against the possibility of undue delay and interruption of the proceedings. Commonwealth v McCloskey, 443 Pa 117; 277 A2d 764 (1971). One might counter that the better solution to such undue delay is to allow counsel to be present during the examination.2 However, I am in agreement with the majority that the presence of counsel is not constitutionally or statutorily mandated in a general investigatory proceeding before the grand jury. In re Groban, 352 US 330; 77 S Ct *669510; 1 L Ed 2d 376 (1957); MCLA 767.19e; MSA 28.959(5).
When counsel is denied the witness, however, the prosecution must be careful to avoid abusive and coercive questioning, against which an uncounselled witness is particularly helpless. When a witness requests the opportunity to speak with his counsel, the prosecutor may determine that it is for a proper purpose and not merely a delaying tactic. Ianniello, supra. However, when the prosecutor inquires into the substance of the witness’s conversation with his attorney he comes dangerously close to invading the attorney-client privilege. As an officer of the state and of the courts3, the prosecutor has a duty to avoid error and respect basic rights of witnesses.
On balance, the prosecutorial conduct in this case does not deserve the description of "star chamber coercion and duress” which the trial judge labeled it. But a prosecutor in grand jury proceedings should be on notice to guard against conduct and questioning which may be so coercive as to require dismissal of a charge of perjury. See People v Allen, 15 Mich App 387; 166 NW2d 664 (1968).

 Set forth below is an example of the type of questioning to which this opinion refers:
"A. Excuse me, can I have a glass of water?
"Q. That is the judge’s water there.
"A. Do you have some? Will you excuse me? I will be right back.
”Q. You are not excused.
"A. I would like to see my attorney.
*668"<?. For what reason? What question have you been asked that is troubling you?
"A. The other questions you gave me. I will be right back. Would you excuse me?
"Q. You mean there is a question that I have asked you that you feel is going to incriminate you to such—
"A. It may, yes.
"Q. That you must confer with your attorney?
"A. It may, yes.
”Q. What question is it?
"A. I will have to remember that when I get out there. I can’t remember that right now.
"Q. All right, you are excused.”

 Several states have provided a statutory right to counsel in a grand jury proceeding. Kan Stat Ann § 22-3009; Utah Code Ann § 77-19-3; Rev Code Wash § 10.27.080, .120. Indeed, as the majority points out, in a one-man grand jury situation, Michigan provides the right to counsel in the proceedings, MCLA 767.3; MSA 28.943. For a critical comment on the denial of the right to counsel in the proceedings, see A.L.I., Model Code of Pre-Arraignment Procedure § 340.3 (Tent. Draft No. 5 1972).

 For a discussion of the dual function served by the prosecutor in the grand jury proceedings, see 39 U Chi LR 761, 765 (1972).