People v. McKinley

176 N.W.2d 406, 383 Mich. 529, 1970 Mich. LEXIS 170
CourtMichigan Supreme Court
DecidedMay 4, 1970
DocketCalendar 25, Docket 52,256-1/2
StatusPublished
Cited by18 cases

This text of 176 N.W.2d 406 (People v. McKinley) 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. McKinley, 176 N.W.2d 406, 383 Mich. 529, 1970 Mich. LEXIS 170 (Mich. 1970).

Opinions

T. M. Kavanagh, J.

Defendant was convicted by a jury of robbery while “being then and there armed with a dangerous weapon, to-wit: with ** * * a brown beer bottle * * * ”1 and was sentenced on August 29, 1966, to a term of 8 to 20 years. At that time the trial judge informed defendant that:

“You are given a form that you can use to initiate an appeal within 60 days from the date hereof. You have a right to request the Court to appoint an attorney for you, and to ask for a copy of the transcript. Mr. Freel (defendant’s trial counsel) will advise you in more detail about this request.”

On September 26, 1966, defendant’s trial attorney appeared before the court and advised it that he had received a letter from defendant making further inquiry as to the possibility of an appeal.2 Rather than attempting to determine defendant’s intention [533]*533respecting post-conviction proceedings, the trial court merely ordered a copy of the trial transcript to he transmitted to defendant with a reminder that defendant must make a decision to appeal within 60 days of the date of sentencing.

Upon being informed by his trial counsel of the court’s order providing a transcript and upon being advised of the 60-day time limitation, 3 defendant proceeded to make subsequent requests and inquiries needed “to eompleate [sic] my appeal.” (Letter [534]*534from defendant to court stenographer dated November 1, 1966.) The trial judge, however, informed defendant by letter dated December 13, 1966, that:

“We have not received a request for an attorney from you to prosecute an appeal, although it does appear that we had a request for a transcript, submitted through Mr. Michael N. Freel, your trial court-appointed attorney. The record shows that on November 8 the transcript was mailed to you.

“As you should have been aware from the advice given at the time of sentence and the advice further given by Mr. Freel, your time for appeal expired on or about October 29, 1966.

“If you wish the assistance of counsel you should advise me promptly. At this time counsel would have to petition for leave to file a delayed appeal.”

On or about November 3,1967, defendant by letter requested the trial court to review his conviction. The trial court treated the letter as a motion for leave to file a delayed motion for new trial and— upon defendant’s request at the hearing upon the motion and in a subsequently filed “petition for counsel only” — appointed counsel to represent defendant in presenting his motion. After a hearing held upon this motion the trial court denied the defendant’s motion and likewise denied defendant further assistance of counsel in subsequent post-conviction proceedings.

Defendant in propria persona filed application for habeas corpus in the Court of Appeals alleging incompetence of trial counsel and denial of post-conviction remedies. The Court of Appeals, treating the application as a complaint for superintending control, denied the same for lack of meritorious grounds for the relief sought.

Delayed application for leave to appeal was granted by this Court (381 Mich 809) but limited to [535]*535the issue of whether defendant has the right to appointment of appellate counsel to prepare and file a delayed application for leave to appeal to the Court of Appeals.

Much reliance is placed by the People upon the case of Jensen v. Menominee Circuit Judge (1969), 382 Mich 535, decided by this Court in the interim between grant of leave to appeal and oral arguments in the instant case. However, Jensen is distinguishable in that it involved a conviction prior to 1963 and carried “no (constitutional) right of appeal” (Jensen, supra, at p 540), and that over six years had expired before Jensen attempted to secure any post-conviction relief. In the instant case defendant had a right to appeal4 and indicated his interest or desire to do so by letter to his trial attorney at least within 60 days from date of sentencing.

The crucial question in the instant case, as distinguished from those issues discussed and decided in Jensen, supra, is whether defendant waived his right to appeal and his corollary right to appointment of appellate counsel.

It is the people’s position that defendant was advised of his rights and was not denied an opportunity to appeal as of right with appointed counsel. It is implied by this argument that defendant’s silence in the matter should be construed to be a waiver of his constitutional right to appeal and to appellate counsel.

We are bound, however, by the statement in Swenson v. Bosler (1967), 386 US 258 (87 S Ct 996, 18 L Ed 2d 33):

“We think the documents contained in this transcript demonstrate that respondent did indicate to the Missouri courts his desire for counsel on appeal. [536]*536But even if such a request had not been made, we do not think its absence would amount to a waiver of respondent’s rights. It is now settled ‘that where the assistance of counsel is a constitutional requisite, the right to be furnished counsel does not depend on a request.’ Carnley v. Cochran (1962), 369 US 506, 513 (82 S Ct 884, 889, 8 L Ed 2d 70, 76). When a defendant whose indigency and desire to appeal are manifest does not have the services of his trial counsel on appeal, it simply cannot be inferred from defendant’s failure specifically to request appointment of appellate counsel that he has knowingly and intelligently waived his right to the appointment of appellate counsel.” (P 260.)

Waiver, as that term has been repeatedly defined by this Court, is the intentional relinquishment or abandonment of a known right. See Welling v. Dave’s Cut Rate Drugs, Inc. (1961), 362 Mich 389; Book Furniture Company v. Chance (1958), 352 Mich 521; Maxey v. Proctor (1955), 343 Mich 453; Kelly v. Allegan County Circuit Judge (1969), 382 Mich 425. The Court indulges every reasonable presumption against waiver of constitutional rights. (See Johnson v. Zerbst [1938], 304 US 458 [56 S Ct 1019, 82 L Ed 1461].) Intelligent waiver, of course, is made to depend upon the considered choice of defendant, and a choice made by counsel but not participated in by defendant does not meet this constitutional standard. (See Fay v. Noia [1963], 372 US 391 [83 S Ct 822, 9 L Ed 2d 837]. See, also, People v. Phillips [1970], 383 Mich 464.) In final analysis, the determination of whether there has been an intelligent and knowing waiver must depend upon the facts and circumstances of each particular case. See Johnson v. Zerbst, supra, at p 464.

A careful reading of the record in the instant case discloses that although defendant was technically advised of his various rights, he failed to compre[537]*537hend either the substantive or procedural nature of the available post-conviction remedies.

Illustrative of defendant’s ignorance and confusion as to the available post-conviction remedies is the proceeding held on the application for leave to file the delayed motion for new trial.5

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

Related

People v. Williams
683 N.W.2d 597 (Michigan Supreme Court, 2004)
Verbison v. Auto Club Ins. Ass'n
506 N.W.2d 920 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1993)
People v. Leonard
364 N.W.2d 625 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1985)
People v. Nelson
333 N.W.2d 113 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1983)
People v. Miller
329 N.W.2d 460 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1982)
People v. Michael Brown
248 N.W.2d 695 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1976)
People v. Kitley
228 N.W.2d 834 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1975)
People v. Lee
218 N.W.2d 655 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1974)
People v. Lucas
209 N.W.2d 436 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1973)
People v. Gazaway
192 N.W.2d 122 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1971)
People v. Bergevin
189 N.W.2d 771 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1971)
Charles L. Albertson v. Perry L. Johnson, Warden
440 F.2d 1201 (Sixth Circuit, 1971)
People v. Cross
186 N.W.2d 398 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1971)
People v. McKinley
176 N.W.2d 406 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1970)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
176 N.W.2d 406, 383 Mich. 529, 1970 Mich. LEXIS 170, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-mckinley-mich-1970.