In the Matter of Wilson

317 N.W.2d 309, 113 Mich. App. 113, 1982 Mich. App. LEXIS 2905
CourtMichigan Court of Appeals
DecidedFebruary 3, 1982
DocketDocket 51356
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 317 N.W.2d 309 (In the Matter of Wilson) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In the Matter of Wilson, 317 N.W.2d 309, 113 Mich. App. 113, 1982 Mich. App. LEXIS 2905 (Mich. Ct. App. 1982).

Opinions

Per Curiam.

On March 20, 1979, the Wayne County Prosecutor filed a petition in the Wayne County Probate Court, Juvenile Division (hereinafter, juvenile court), alleging that Sylvester Wilson committed acts, the nature of which constituted the felonies of assault with intent to commit murder, MCL 750.83; MSA 28.278, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, MCL 750.227b; MSA 28.424(2). Jurisdiction of the juvenile court was alleged to exist pursuant to MCL 712A.2(a)(l); MSA 27.3178(598.2)(a)(l).1 At the time the petition was filed, Wilson was 16 years of age.

The prosecutor then filed a motion requesting waiver of juvenile court jurisdiction pursuant to MCL 712A.4; MSA 27.3178(598.4).2 Following a [117]*117"probable cause” or "phase 1” hearing held April 12, 1979, the court found probable cause to believe that Wilson committed the acts charged in the petition and motion. See MCL 712A.4(3); MSA 27.3178(598.4)(3), and JCR 1969, 11.1(A).3

[118]*118On May 16, 1979, a "phase 2” hearing was held pursuant to MCL 712A.4(4); MSA 27.3178(598.4)(4), and JCR 1969, 11.1(B), to determine whether the interests of the child and the public would best be served by granting the waiver of jurisdiction. The prosecutor presented his first witness, a psychologist who testified as to his psychological evaluation of Wilson and his conclusion regarding the waiver issue. At the conclusion of this testimony, a short off-the-record discussion was held between the court and counsel. Over the prosecutor’s objection, the court terminated the phase 2 hearing, "dismissed” the prosecutor’s motion requesting waiver and accepted Wilson’s plea in confession to the offense of felonious assault, MCL 750.82; MSA 28.277. A final order was entered May 18, 1979.

Pursuant to MCL 600.863; MSA 27A.863, the prosecutor appealed to the Wayne County Circuit Court, which affirmed the order of the juvenile court. The prosecutor brings this appeal by leave granted February 18, 1981.

The prosecutor contends that the juvenile court erred in terminating the phase 2 hearing without allowing testimony from additional available witnesses regarding the waiver issue, and in allowing Wilson to enter a plea in confession to the included offense of felonious assault, without the prosecutor’s concurrence.

JCR 1969, 11.1(B) provides in part:

"Phase 2: Criteria for Waiver. On a showing of probable cause, the court shall conduct a full investigation to determine whether the interests of the child and the public would best be served by granting a waiver of .jurisdiction to a court of criminal jurisdiction.
"In making the determination, the following criteria must be considered and the court shall make findings on them before a waiver may be granted:
[119]*119"(1) the prior record and character of the child, his physical and mental maturity, and his pattern of living;
"(2) the seriousness of the offense;
"(3) even though less serious, if the offense is part of a repetitive pattern of offenses which would lead to a determination that the child may be beyond rehabilitation under the regular statutory juvenile procedures;
"(4) the relative suitability of programs and facilities available to the juvenile and criminal courts for the child;
"(5) whether the best interests of the public welfare and the protection of the public security, generally, require that the juvenile stand trial as an adult offender.”

The court rule parallels MCL 712A.4; MSA 27.3178(598.4).

If, after a full investigation, the court declines to waive jurisdiction, the matter proceeds to an adjudicative hearing, at which it is determined whether the child comes within the court’s jurisdiction as alleged in the petition. JCR 1969, 8.1(A). Unless the child enters a valid plea in confession, the prosecutor has the burden of proving beyond a reasonable doubt the allegations in the petition.4

The above-cited provisions make clear that the waiver issue is separate from the adjudicative phase, and must be resolved by the court without regard to the child’s stated desire to enter a valid plea in confession to the offense charged in the petition or to some included offense. If waiver of jurisdiction is granted, the court must provide a [120]*120written statement setting forth findings which form the basis for the waiver. MCL 712A.4(7); MSA 28.3178(598.4)(7), JCR 1969, 11.6. No statement of findings is required where waiver is denied. Nonetheless, the court is bound to conduct a full investigation and to hear all relevant and available evidence bearing on the criteria set forth in the court rule and statute. See People v Schumacher, 75 Mich App 505; 256 NW2d 39 (1977).

In the present case, the court made no substantive ruling on the waiver issue, but rather, "dismissed” the motion requesting waiver, terminated the phase 2 proceedings and accepted Wilson’s plea in confession. The cause is therefore remanded for a full investigation and determination of the waiver issue. The prosecutor shall be entitled to present any relevant evidence he may have bearing on the criteria set forth in the court rule and statute.

On remand, the juvenile court may decide that waiver of jurisdiction is not in the best interests of the child and the public. It is therefore necessary for us to decide whether, at the adjudicative phase, the court may accept, over the prosecutor’s objections, a valid plea in confession to a lesser included offense to the offense charged in the petition.

In Genesee Prosecutor v Genesee Circuit Judge, 386 Mich 672; 194 NW2d 693 (1972) (hereafter Genesee Prosecutor I), the Supreme Court held that a trial judge does not have authority, over the objection of the prosecutor, to accept a plea of guilty to an offense not charged in the information. In Genesee Prosecutor v Genesee Circuit Judge, 391 Mich 115; 215 NW2d 145 (1974) (hereafter Genesee Prosecutor II), the Court held that a trial judge may not, over the prosecutor’s objec[121]*121tion, accept a plea of guilty to one count of a multi-count information or a plea of guilty to a lesser included offense to the offense charged in the information. We must now decide whether the principle prohibiting a trial court from accepting, over the prosecutor’s objection, a plea to a lesser included offense, applies to juvenile court proceedings.

The Genesee Prosecutor decisions were based primarily on the separation of powers doctrine. The Court in Genesee Prosecutor II, supra, 121, noted that, while a circuit judge has the power of judicial review over certain decisions of the examining magistrate and the prosecutor, he does not possess supervisory power over the prosecutor. The Court stated:

"A circuit judge does not enjoy supervisory power over a prosecuting attorney. He may reverse a magistrate’s decision only for abuse of discretion. He may not properly substitute his judgment for that of the magistrate or prosecuting attorney as if he were reviewing the magistrate’s decision de novo or acting in a supervisory capacity with respect to the prosecuting attorney.

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In the Matter of Wilson
317 N.W.2d 309 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1982)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
317 N.W.2d 309, 113 Mich. App. 113, 1982 Mich. App. LEXIS 2905, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-the-matter-of-wilson-michctapp-1982.