People v. Butler

195 N.W.2d 268, 387 Mich. 1, 1972 Mich. LEXIS 152
CourtMichigan Supreme Court
DecidedMarch 9, 1972
Docket30 June Term 1971, Docket No. 52,863
StatusPublished
Cited by46 cases

This text of 195 N.W.2d 268 (People v. Butler) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
People v. Butler, 195 N.W.2d 268, 387 Mich. 1, 1972 Mich. LEXIS 152 (Mich. 1972).

Opinions

Williams, J.

Defendant raises two issues on appeal in this case.1 First, he contends that Boykin v Alabama, 395 US 238; 89 S Ct 1709; 23 L Ed 2d 274 (1969), applies retroactively and requires that the record affirmatively disclose that defendant was expressly informed of and specifically waived his constitutional rights to trial by jury, to confront his accusers, and against self-incrimination prior to the acceptance of his plea of guilty and that the record shows the trial court failed to advise the defendant [5]*5of his privilege against compulsory self-incrimination.2 Second, he claims that the requirement of People v Barrows, 358 Mich 267 (1959), that the court “examine the accused” for the purpose of establishing the crime and defendant’s participation therein, can only be satisfied by direct questioning of the defendant by the court.

On March 20, 1969, Gary Darwin Butler stood mute at his arraignment on the charge of possession of a stolen motor vehicle. Subsequently, the prosecution added a second count of unlawfully driving away an automobile. With the representation of counsel, defendant pled guilty to the added count on May 7, 1969. Boykin was decided on June 2, 1969.

At the plea proceeding defendant’s attorney promised to file a written statement, previously signed by the defendant, in which defendant asserted that his plea was understandingly and voluntarily made. In response to the court’s concern that a record be made demonstrating the voluntariness of defendant’s plea as required by the court rule on the taking of guilty pleas, defendant’s lawyer proceeded to question him regarding the factual details of the crime and his participation therein. The court personally inquired of defendant whether his plea was motivated by any threats, promises or other inducements. The court accepted defendant’s plea. On appeal3 the Court of Appeals affirmed the plea conviction in a per curiam opinion. Deciding [6]*6that Boykin applied prospectively only, the Court of Appeals opined that the Barrows rule that the court “examine the accused” to ascertain a factual basis for the plea and presumably the requirement that the plea he freely, understandingly and voluntarily made could be complied with in a form and manner in the discretion of the trial court. Thus, the examination of defendant by his lawyer in open court at the time the plea was offered satisfied the requirement of ascertaining a factual basis for the plea. As for the failure to advise the defendant of his privilege against compulsory self-incrimination, the Court of Appeals found “nothing exists which would show that the plea was not knowingly and voluntarily made,” etc. We granted leave to appeal primarily to decide the retroactivity of Boykin.

I.

The United States Supreme Court has not yet passed on the question of the retroactivity of Boykin. Brady v United States, 397 US 742, 747; 90 S Ct 1463, 1468; 25 L Ed 2d 747 (1970). However, several state supreme courts have considered the question of Boykin’s retroactivity and have uniformly given Boykin prospective application only. In re Tahl, 1 Cal 3d 122; 460 P2d 449 ; 81 Cal Rptr 577 (1969); Ernst v State, 43 Wis 2d 661; 170 NW2d 713 (1969); State v Urbano, 105 Ariz 13; 457 P2d 343 (1969); Ward v People, 172 Colo 244; 472 P2d 673 (1970); People v Williams, 44 Ill 2d 334; 255 NE2d 385 (1970); State v Jackson, 173 NW2d 567 (Iowa, 1970); Crego v State, 447 SW2d 550 (Mo, 1969); Commonwealth v Godfrey, 434 Pa 532; 254 A2d 923 (1969). We agree with our sister states. See also Linkletter v Walker, 381 US 618; 85 S Ct [7]*71731; 14 L Ed 2d 601 (1965) and Halliday v United States, 394 US 831; 89 S Ct 1498; 23 L Ed 2d 16 (1969).

H.

Having determined that Boykin has only prospective effect, we turn to the question whether the plea in this case is valid under Michigan law.

The written statement signed hy the defendant specifically contains a waiver of the right to jury trial. It also states that defendant understands that he is presumed innocent until proven guilty and that his guilt must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Another written statement asserts that defendant had an adequate opportunity to “converse and counsel” with his lawyer. In fact, the trial court and counsel have quite meticulously compiled a most exemplary record except for the failure to advise the defendant of his right against self-incrimination. This right is a right guaranteed both by the Federal and Michigan Constitutions.

The underlying principle in both Federal and Michigan law relating to the taking of guilty pleas is that the defendant in pleading guilty waives a number of important constitutional rights and can be permitted to do so only if he does so understandingly and voluntarily.

This principle is articulated in Michigan through MCLA 768.35; MSA 28.1058, and GCR 1963, 785.3, and People v Barrows, supra. For full discussion see People v Jaworski, 387 Mich 21 (1972) released this day.

The four cases of People v Hobdy, 380 Mich 686 (1968); People v Dunn, 380 Mich 693 (1968); People v Stearns, 380 Mich 704 (1968); and People v Winegar, 380 Mich 719 (1968), indicate that the mandates [8]*8of the statute, court rule, and Borrows are satisfied by substantial compliance. People v Rufus Williams, 386 Mich 277 (1971). The issue in this case therefore becomes whether there is substantial compliance where the record shows that in taking the guilty plea the defendant was properly advised of his rights except his right against self-incrimination.

Logically there are two ways of looking at this. First, “you must advise the defendant of substantially all of his rights,” or second, “you must substantially advise defendant of all of his rights.”

The cases hold that a defendant must be substantially advised of each of his rights. People v Winegar, supra, People v Dunn, supra, and People v Jaworski, 387 Mich 21 (1972). As noted previously, a thorough review of the record of the lower court proceedings in the instant case fails to disclose that the defendant was ever advised concerning his constitutional right against self-incrimination. Therefore we must vacate the defendant’s conviction and remand to the circuit court for further proceedings consonant with this opinion.

III.

Regarding defendant’s claim that People v Barrows, supra, necessitates direct personal inquiry of the defendant for purposes of ascertaining the factual basis of the plea, defendant’s counsel interrogating defendant as to how he drove the car away more than satisfied Barrows, People v Rufus Williams, supra, People v Stearns, supra.

We emphasize that what we say in Part II has no application to pleas of guilty taken after April 1, 1972. This Court has invited members of the trial and appellate bench along with members of the bar to review GCR 1963, 785.3 to determine whether it [9]

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Bluebook (online)
195 N.W.2d 268, 387 Mich. 1, 1972 Mich. LEXIS 152, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-butler-mich-1972.