People v. Legrone

517 N.W.2d 270, 205 Mich. App. 77
CourtMichigan Court of Appeals
DecidedMay 2, 1994
DocketDocket 155256
StatusPublished
Cited by31 cases

This text of 517 N.W.2d 270 (People v. Legrone) 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. Legrone, 517 N.W.2d 270, 205 Mich. App. 77 (Mich. Ct. App. 1994).

Opinion

Reilly, P.J.

Defendant appeals as of right his jury conviction of murder in the first degree, felony murder, MCL 750.316; MSA 28.548, armed robbery, MCL 750.529; MSA 28.797, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, MCL 750.227b; MSA 28.424(2). Defendant was sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment without parole for the murder conviction, a concurrent term of twenty-five to forty years for the armed robbery conviction, and a consecutive term of two years for the felony-firearm conviction. We affirm.

*79 Defendant contends that the trial court erred in refusing to grant his motion for a new trial when a juror, who had been convicted of a felony, was permitted to remain on the jury after she had been challenged for cause by the prosecutor. A trial court’s decision on a motion for a new trial is reviewed for an abuse of discretion. People v Lang ley, 187 Mich App 147, 151; 466 NW2d 724 (1991).

The challenged juror had been convicted seventeen years earlier of selling cocaine. Following a guilty plea, she was sentenced to five years of probation. In response to questions by the judge, the juror stated that she could be fair and impartial even though much of the evidence would be provided by police officers and might involve testimony regarding dealing in drugs. The judge then indicated that he was exercising his discretion and denied the challenge for cause.

The record shows that the defendant used only five of the twelve peremptory challenges available to him during jury voir dire. In addition, defendant did not object to the composition of the jury. Rather, defendant indicated that he was "very satisfied” with the jury as empaneled after the trial court denied the prosecutor’s challenge for cause.

Defendant contends that the juror was not competent as a matter of law to sit on the jury and that the trial court had no discretion in the determination of the juror’s competency. Defendant relies on MCR 2.511(D)(2) and MCR 6.412(D)(2) to support his position.

MCR 2.511(D)(2) provides that grounds for a challenge for cause exist where a prospective juror has been convicted of a felony. 1 MCR 6.412(D)(1), relating to criminal procedure, provides that a *80 prospective juror is subject to challenge for cause on any ground set forth in MCR 2.511(D) or for any other reason recognized by law. MCR 6.412(D) (2) sets forth the procedure to be followed:

If, after the examination of any juror, the court finds that a ground for challenging a juror for cause is present, the court on its own initiative should, or on motion of either party must, excuse the juror from the panel.

Defendant also cites People v Lamar, 153 Mich App 127, 134-135; 395 NW2d 262 (1986), and People v Badour, 167 Mich App 186; 421 NW2d 624 (1988), rev’d on other grounds 434 Mich 691; 456 NW2d 391 (1990), to support his position that the trial court is without discretion to retain a convicted felon as a juror.

In Lamar, supra, this Court held that GCR 1963, 511.4, now MCR 2.511(D), requires a court to excuse a juror whenever a challenge for cause clearly falls within one of the grounds enunciated in GCR 1963, 511.4(4)-(13). In Badour, supra, as here, the defendant did not argue that she was denied an impartial jury. Rather, she asserted that reversal of her conviction was required because she was forced to use her final peremptory challenge to excuse a juror challenged under GCR 1963, 511.4(3) and (4). Neither case is applicable *81 here, where the defendant’s challenge is based upon MCR 2.511(D)(2) and defendant failed to exhaust all his peremptory challenges.

In Poet v Traverse City Osteopathic Hosp, 433 Mich 228; 445 NW2d 115 (1989), our Supreme Court arrived at the same conclusions reached in Lamar and Badour. In Poet, the Court considered whether the plaintiffs were entitled to a new trial after the trial court denied the plaintiffs’ challenge of a juror for cause under MCR 2.511(D)(5). The plaintiffs used a peremptory challenge to excuse that person. After the plaintiffs had exhausted their peremptory challenges, the plaintiffs challenged another juror for cause under MCR 2.511(D)(10) and (12). The challenge was also denied. The Court determined that the first challenge for cause was denied improperly and that the denial resulted in the use of a peremptory challenge that otherwise would have been available to remove the last juror from the panel. The Court enunciated a four-pronged test to determine whether an error in refusing a challenge for cause merits reversal:

[W]e hold that in order for a party to seek relief in this instance, there must be some clear and independent showing on the record that: (1) the court improperly denied a challenge for cause, (2) the aggrieved party exhausted all peremptory challenges, (3) the party demonstrated the desire to excuse another subsequently summoned juror, and (4) the juror whom the party wished later to excuse was objectionable. [Poet, supra at 241.]

The Court also ruled that when counsel demonstrates that a prospective juror fits one of the categories enumerated in MCR 2.511(D)(4)-(13), a trial court is required to excuse such juror for cause because "[t]his showing is equivalent to *82 proving a biased or prejudicial state of mind.” However, "[ultimately . . . the decision to grant or deny a challenge for cause is within the sound discretion of the trial court.” Poet, supra at 236.

In the case before us, even if we were to concede that the trial court erred in refusing to excuse the prospective juror because she had been convicted of a felony, reversal is not required. Defendant did not move for disqualification of the prospective juror, was "very satisfied” with the panel finally selected, and, therefore, cannot be considered the "aggrieved” party. Moreover, defendant did not exhaust all his peremptory challenges, did not demonstrate a desire to excuse any subsequently called juror, and did not show that any other juror was objectionable. Applying the Poet test to the facts presented here, defendant has failed to show that reversal is required.

Although the Poet case involved a civil matter, we believe the principles announced in that case are appropriately applied in criminal cases as well. Badour, supra at 190. When the defendant expressed satisfaction with the jury with several peremptory challenges remaining, he waived the issue whether a juror should have been excused for cause. People v Daniels, 192 Mich App 658, 666-667; 482 NW2d 176 (1992). Consequently, we conclude that reversal is not required because a convicted felon was permitted to sit as a juror.

We also reject defendant’s contention that he is entitled to a new trial because of the prosecutor’s closing argument. Questions of misconduct by the prosecutor are decided case by case. People v Mack, 190 Mich App 7, 19; 475 NW2d 830 (1991).

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Bluebook (online)
517 N.W.2d 270, 205 Mich. App. 77, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-legrone-michctapp-1994.