People v. Frazier

776 N.W.2d 904, 485 Mich. 1044

Opinion

776 N.W.2d 904 (2010)

PEOPLE of the State of Michigan, Plaintiff-Appellee,
v.
Alvin D. FRAZIER, Defendant-Appellant.

Docket No. 139398. COA No. 292085.

Supreme Court of Michigan.

January 22, 2010.

Order

On order of the Court, the application for leave to appeal the July 1, 2009 order of the Court of Appeals is considered and it is DENIED, because we are not persuaded that the questions presented should be reviewed by this Court. We note that the trial court orally gave the defendant certain warnings at his plea hearing. He advised defendant that by pleading no contest to the charges against him, he waived his right to court-appointed counsel unless his sentence exceeded the sentencing guidelines, his plea was conditional, the prosecutor sought leave to appeal, or the Court of Appeals or this Court granted his application for leave to appeal. That instruction was legally erroneous. Halbert v. Michigan, 545 U.S. 605, 125 S.Ct. 2582, 162 L.Ed.2d 552 (2005); MCR 6.425(F)(2).

However, the trial court's error was harmless, because defendant received an advice-of-rights form at sentencing informing him of his right to appointed counsel under all circumstances, regardless of whether his conviction was plea-based or trial-based. MCR 6.425(F)(3). Therefore, defendant was not prejudiced by the trial court's erroneous oral instructions. Under MCR 6.425(F)(2)(c), defendant was required to request counsel within 42 days. Because defendant did not request that appellate counsel be appointed until seven months later, his request was properly denied.

Although the error was harmless in this case, trial judges should take care to advise defendants in plea proceedings of their continuing right to court-appointed counsel if they cannot afford counsel.