People v. Dunn

158 N.W.2d 404, 380 Mich. 693, 1968 Mich. LEXIS 174
CourtMichigan Supreme Court
DecidedMay 8, 1968
DocketCalendar 46, Docket 51,666
StatusPublished
Cited by127 cases

This text of 158 N.W.2d 404 (People v. Dunn) 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. Dunn, 158 N.W.2d 404, 380 Mich. 693, 1968 Mich. LEXIS 174 (Mich. 1968).

Opinions

O’Haea, J.

Tbis is an appeal, on leave granted, to tbe people of tbe State of Michigan from a denial of a rebearing by tbe Court of Appeals. In its order on wbicb rebearing was sought, tbe Court of Appeals on its own motion reversed a judgment of conviction entered upon tbe defendant’s plea of guilty.

Tbe guilty plea was accepted by tbe trial court on July 24, 1962. A motion for a new trial was [696]*696denied and delayed appeal therefrom was granted by the Court of Appeals September 30, 1966.

At the time of the acceptance of defendant’s guilty plea, Court Rule 35A (1945) was in effect. It is identical with GrCR 1963, 785.3 as originally drafted. See 379 Mich pp xxxii, xxxiii.

In 1958 appellee had been sentenced to confinement in the State prison in Jackson. On July 11, 1962, he was arraigned on the charge of escaping from prison. Upon his arraignment on this offense the court rejected his inconclusive plea to the charge and entered a plea of not guilty, and he was confined to await trial. On July 24, 1962, he was again before the circuit judge at his own request, as appears from the following questions and answers contained in the transcript of the second appearance:

“Mr. Fleming [Prosecuting Attorney]; I understand, Mr. Dunn, that you requested to be brought back into court today for the purpose of changing your plea, is that correct?
“The Defendant: Yes, sir.
“The Court: Is that right?
“The Defendant: Yes, sir.”

After this further examination by the court, his guilty plea was accepted. Insofar as it is relevant to the issues raised by this appeal, appellee’s questioning by the trial judge on his first appearance is herewith set forth:

“Mr. Fleming: Do you have an attorney here this morning, Mr. Dunn?
“The Defendant: No.
“The Court: You understand, Mr. Dunn, that you are entitled to an attorney of your own choice and if you are unable to furnish one that the State will furnish you one?
[697]*697“The Defendant: Yes, sir.
“The Court: You understand that?
“The Defendant: Yes, sir. * * *
“The Court: You understand that you are charged with escaping prison, charged as a second felony?
“The Defendant: Yes, sir.
“The Court: You understand that?
“The Defendant: Yes, sir.”

The first question raised is whether appellee waived his right to counsel. On his first appearance before the court he was clearly advised of this right. He requested that he be brought before the court again. His purpose in so requesting was determined by question and answer. There was no necessity that the court again inform him of his right to appointed counsel. When he stated to the court that he desired to plead guilty, after being informed of his right to appointed counsel, he waived that right intelligently and competently. There is no requirement that this waiver be in express form. See People v. Hobdy (1968), 380 Mich 686.

The nature of the examination of the accused required by the Court Rule before the acceptance of a plea of guilty need not be in any stereotyped form.

“The form and manner of this examination by the judge has not been prescribed but is left to the discretion of the judge, to be exercised by him in the manner best suited to the parties and the offense.” People v. Bumpus (1959), 355 Mich 374, 380.

It is argued on behalf of appellee that United States Supreme Court case precedent mandates a holding that the right to counsel was not waived in this case. Principal reliance is placed upon Carnley v. Cochran,3 Gideon v. Wainwright4 and Johnson [698]*698v. Zerbst.5 It should be noted that none of these cases involved the acceptance of a plea of guilty. No case is cited to us, nor does our research reveal one in which the United States Supreme Court has passed on the question of what constitutes a waiver of counsel upon a plea of guilty (see Hobdy, supra). The foregoing trilogy of United States Supreme Court cases is obviously distinguishable from the case at bar.

In Gideon the accused specifically requested appointed counsel with his plea of not guilty and his request was refused. His conviction was set aside.

Johnson was a case in which 2 young marines on leave were tried for a felony and convicted without the aid of counsel. They, too, pleaded not guilty.

Garnley, too, was a case of trial without assistance of counsel.

But accepting arguendo that the precedential language set forth in the brief of appellee is applicable by analogy, we find they hold in principle as follows: Waiver of counsel is impermissible from a silent record. We agree. A right cannot be waived where there is no showing the accused was aware of the right.

The right when explained thereafter must be understandingly, competently, and intelligently waived.

“Presuming waiver from a silent record is impermissible; The record must show, or there must be an allegation and evidence which show, that an accused was offered counsel but intelligently and understandingly rejected the offer. Anything less is not waiver.” Carnleyv. Cochran, supra, p 516.
“This protecting duty [referring to the responsibility of a trial judge where a defendant has no coun[699]*699sel] imposes the serious and weighty responsibility upon the trial judge of determining whether there is an intelligent and competent waiver- by the accused.” (Emphasis supplied.) Johnson v. Zerbst, supra, p 465.
“The Sixth Amendment provides, ‘In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right * * * to have the assistance of counsel for his defence.’ We have construed this to mean that in Federal courts counsel must be provided for defendants unable to employ counsel unless the right is competently and intelligently waived.” (Emphasis supplied.) Gideon v. Wainwright, supra, pp 339, 340.

We here hold that when a trial judge says, as did Judge Simpson here, “You understand * * that you are entitled to an attorney of your own choice and if you are unable to furnish one that the State will furnish you one,” the right to assistance of counsel has been explained, and an offer of counsel made.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
158 N.W.2d 404, 380 Mich. 693, 1968 Mich. LEXIS 174, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-dunn-mich-1968.