People v. Juarez

404 N.W.2d 222, 158 Mich. App. 66
CourtMichigan Court of Appeals
DecidedFebruary 18, 1987
DocketDocket 89032
StatusPublished
Cited by31 cases

This text of 404 N.W.2d 222 (People v. Juarez) 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
People v. Juarez, 404 N.W.2d 222, 158 Mich. App. 66 (Mich. Ct. App. 1987).

Opinion

T. Gillespie, J.

The defendant, John Juarez, also known as Chino, was convicted by a jury in Gene-see County of conspiracy to deliver cocaine, MCL 333.7401(1) and (2)(a)(iv) and 750.157a; MSA 14.15(7401)(1) and (2)(a)(iv) and 28.354(1). He was sentenced by Judge Robert M. Ransom to from twelve to twenty years in prison.

The defendant appeals alleging two grounds for appeal: first, that a juror who had been excused by peremptory challenge may have actually served on the jury; second, that he was deprived of his right to effective assistance of counsel. He has filed a motion for peremptory reversal and also applied to the Supreme Court for leave to appeal prior to *69 decision by this Court, which was denied by an order of the Supreme Court on June 30, 1986.

We remand to the circuit court for an evidentiary hearing as to defendant’s first issue regarding the possible seating of an excluded juror. In the event that the trial court finds that a dismissed juror did not sit on the case, the conviction is affirmed.

We find the defendant was not deprived of effective assistance of counsel on the second issue raised by the defendant.

The case arose in the City of Flint in early 1985 when Lieutenant Fiedler and Sergeant Winters of the Michigan State Police were working undercover posing as drug dealers. Lieutenant Fiedler, using the alias of John Todd, was incarcerated briefly in the Genesee County jail in 1984 under a pretended charge of conspiracy to deliver cocaine. There he met a guard, Raymond Bridges, whom he solicited to assist in the procurement of cocaine. Bridges called upon a Charles McElroy and introduced the state police officers to McElroy. In January, 1985, McElroy introduced the officers to the defendant who, after some persuasion, took $2,400 from Lieutenant Fiedler with a promise to procure cocaine.

Later in the month of January, Lieutenant Fiedler was informed that the defendant had the cocaine, but when the officers attempted to pick it up, the defendant’s mother, Ramona Juarez, gave them a note written by the defendant which stated he was being followed and could not deliver. Some days later Mrs. Juarez gave them a money order for $2,400 with a note saying, "John, this is the twenty-four hundred I owe you, paid in full, John.”

In early February, the defendant called Lieutenant Fiedler on the telephone with an explanation that a friend had stolen the cocaine. A few days *70 later, he again called to renew his offer to find cocaine. He was given a deadline of one day to do so, but never got in touch with Lieutenant Fiedler again and on May 15, 1985, was arrested.

Trial was scheduled September 18, 1985, but was adjourned until October 7 in order to give William Hayes, defendant’s retained attorney, an opportunity to review McElroy’s statement. Shortly before trial, Hayes attempted to withdraw as counsel claiming that the defendant had dismissed him and was seeking new counsel. On the date of trial, defendant informed Judge Ransom that he had selected a Mr. O’Rourke to represent him. Later in the day, Mr. O’Rourke appeared and told the judge that he had declined to represent the defendant as he did not have time to prepare. Judge Ransom determined that defendant’s change of counsel was for the purpose of delaying the trial and ordered that the trial proceed.

On October 7, 1985, jury selection was made with Mr. Hayes representing the defendant, as he was the attorney of record. The defendant registered a strong protest at being represented by Hayes.

The jury record disclosed that Ava Oglesby, juror nine, was excused on a peremptory challenge by the defense. A juror by the name of Pamela Alger was selected as the thirteenth juror. After the guilty verdict was returned, the jurors were polled. The transcript reflects that juror Oglesby answered the poll with a "yes” as the twelfth juror, but that Pamela Alger was not polled by name at all. The defendant argues that this Court is restricted to the trial transcript which reflects that juror Oglesby, who was dismissed, voted on the panel. The prosecution argues that the transcript is in error and that defendant’s conviction *71 should not be reversed because of a typographical error in the trial transcript.

The defendant raises for the first time on appeal the issue of the composition of the jury. At the close of voir dire, defense counsel had expressed satisfaction with the jury as constituted.

Appellate review is foreclosed when an issue is raised for the first time on appeal unless it appears that failure to consider the issue would result in a miscarriage of justice. MCL 769.26; MSA 28.1096; People v Johnson, 116 Mich App 452; 323 NW2d 439 (1982).

In our opinion there is no constitutional right to peremptory challenges and if the failure to remove a peremptorily challenged juror does occur such defect would not constitute a violation of the constitution. As Justice White noted in Swain v Alabama, 380 US 202, 219; 85 S Ct 824; 13 L Ed 2d 759 (1965):

Although "[t]here is nothing in the Constitution of the United States which requires the Congress [or the States] to grant peremptory challenges,” Stilson v United States, 250 US 583, 586 [40 S Ct 28; 63 L Ed 1154 (1919)], nonetheless the challenge is "one of the most important of the rights secured to the accused.” Pointer v United States, 151 US 396, 408 [14 S Ct 410; 38 L Ed 208 (1894)]. The denial or impairment of the right is reversible error without a showing of prejudice, Lewis v United States [146 US 370; 13 S Ct 136; 36 L Ed 1011 (1892)]; Harrison v United States, 163 US 140 [16 S Ct 961; 41 L Ed 104 (1896)]; cf., Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe R Co v Shane 157 US 348 [15 S Ct 641; 39 L Ed 727 (1895)]. "For it is, as Blackstone says, an arbitrary and capricious right; and it must be exercised with full freedom or it fails of its full purpose.” Lewis v United States [146 US 370, 378; 13 S Ct 136; 36 L Ed 1011 (1892)].

However, under MCL 768.12; MSA 28.1035, a *72 defendant is granted five peremptory challenges in a case not punishable by death or life imprisonment. In People v Roxborough, 307 Mich 575, 593-594; 12 NW2d 466 (1943), referring to peremptory challenges, the Supreme Court said, "This right has been granted by law, and may be exercised in any manner deemed expedient, and such action does not violate any of the constitutional rights of an accused.”

A failure, however, to honor the statutory right of peremptory challenge is error requiring reversal and of serious import.

We therefore exercise our discretion under MCR 7.216(A)(7) and remand for an evidentiary hearing to determine whether in fact juror Ava Oglesby actually sat on the jury which convicted the defendant or whether Pamela Alger in fact served and was polled. If Pamela Alger actually sat on the jury and answered "yes” when polled, the trial judge should enter an order correcting the record and the verdict as to that issue is affirmed.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

State v. McLean
2002 ME 171 (Supreme Judicial Court of Maine, 2002)
People v. Schmitz
586 N.W.2d 766 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1998)
People v. Daoust
577 N.W.2d 179 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1998)
People v. Paasche
525 N.W.2d 914 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1994)
State v. Carvalho
880 P.2d 217 (Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals, 1994)
People v. Loy-Rafuls
500 N.W.2d 480 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1993)
People v. Cotton
478 N.W.2d 681 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1991)
People v. Tucker
448 N.W.2d 811 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1989)
People v. Jahner
446 N.W.2d 151 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1989)
People v. Bettistea
434 N.W.2d 138 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1988)
People v. Heffron
438 N.W.2d 253 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1988)
Bay County Prosecutor v. Bay Circuit Judge
435 N.W.2d 757 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1988)
People v. Thivierge
435 N.W.2d 446 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1988)
People v. Zuccarini
431 N.W.2d 446 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1988)
People v. Calloway
427 N.W.2d 194 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1988)
Smith v. City of Pontiac
426 N.W.2d 704 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1988)
People v. Lipps
421 N.W.2d 586 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1988)
People v. Bero
425 N.W.2d 138 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1988)
People v. Calabro
419 N.W.2d 791 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1988)
People v. Wilson
419 N.W.2d 750 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1988)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
404 N.W.2d 222, 158 Mich. App. 66, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-juarez-michctapp-1987.