People v. McMillan

242 N.W.2d 518, 68 Mich. App. 113, 1976 Mich. App. LEXIS 683
CourtMichigan Court of Appeals
DecidedMarch 24, 1976
DocketDocket 22695
StatusPublished
Cited by16 cases

This text of 242 N.W.2d 518 (People v. McMillan) 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. McMillan, 242 N.W.2d 518, 68 Mich. App. 113, 1976 Mich. App. LEXIS 683 (Mich. Ct. App. 1976).

Opinions

J. H. Gillis, J.

A jury convicted defendant of uttering and publishing, contrary to MCLA 750.249; MSA 28.446. She was sentenced to a 2-1/2 to 14 year prison term, and appeals as of right.

On June 15, 1973, a woman attempted to cash a stolen check in a Port Huron grocery. The check was drawn on the account of one Shirley Ashford and made payable to Donna McMillan. When the store manager called the bank to verify the check, the woman fled. Three witnesses identified defendant as the woman who attempted to cash the check.

On appeal, defendant raises several issues for our consideration. We will discuss them seriatim.

I.

The Alibi Instruction

At trial, defendant presented alibi testimony, and now raises objections to the instruction given the jury on alibi. Defendant urges reversal because the instruction contains language specifically disapproved in People v McCoy, 392 Mich 231; 220 NW2d 456 (1974), viz.:

"For cases tried after the publication of this opinion, it will be deemed reversible error (1) to denigrate the alibi defense 'as easily proven and hard to disprove’ or to suggest that it is the burden of the defendant to 'establish’ the defense.” 392 Mich at 240; 220 NW2d at 460.

Here the jury was told that an alibi defense "is one easily made or manufactured and likewise hard to disprove”. The instructions also spoke of "sustaining” the defense.

[117]*117The McCoy slip opinion1 is dated August 2, 1974. The Advance Sheets of Michigan Reports containing the opinion is dated August 30, 1974. We must decide whether "publication” of the McCoy opinion is the date of the slip sheet decision or the date the decision appeared in the Advance Sheets of Michigan Reports. Though at least four opinions of this Court have stated that McCoy governs trials after August 2, 1974, People v Crutchfield, 62 Mich App 149; 233 NW2d 507 (1975), People v Davis, 61 Mich App 220; 232 NW2d 683 (1975), People v Phelps, 57 Mich App 300; 225 NW2d 738 (1975), People v Thomas, 55 Mich App 368; 222 NW2d 320 (1974), there is no indication that in any of these decisions the court was required to focus upon the exact meaning of "publication” of McCoy. The choice of August 30th rather than August 2nd would not have led to a different result in any of these prior decisions, and we feel compelled to distinguish them on that basis.

In determining the extent of prospective effect we review other Supreme Court opinions dealing with the prospective timing of a rule the Court has pronounced. In People v Brown, 393 Mich 174, 181; 224 NW2d 38 (1974), the Court stated that the announced rule would govern "cases resulting from charges made on and after the date of this opinion”. In People v Davis, 392 Mich 221, 227; 220 NW2d 452 (1974), the Court limited its rule to [118]*118"future cases and in pending cases where defendants timely contested”. The decision in People v Tanner, 387 Mich 683, 690; 199 NW2d 202 (1972), was limited by the Court "to those cases in which sentence is to be or has been imposed after date of filing of this opinion and to those cases which on date of filing of this opinion are pending”. (Emphasis supplied.) A new rule in workmen’s compensation which the Court announced in Whetro v Awkerman, 383 Mich 235, 244; 174 NW2d 783 (1970), only applied to claims for . compensation "arising after March 12, 1970, the date of the filing of this opinion”. (Emphasis supplied.)

As in McCoy, People v Robinson, 390 Mich 629, 634; 213 NW2d 106 (1973), speaks of publishing rather than filing when setting the operative date. Several Court of Appeals’ opinions have interpreted "[i]n appeals filed after this opinion is published” to mean that the rule in Robinson governs only after the date the opinion appeared in the advance sheets.2 People v Coppernol, 59 Mich App 745; 229 NW2d 913 (1975), People v Robert Hall, 56 Mich App 10; 223 NW2d 340 (1974), People v Koehler, 54 Mich App 624, 640; 221 NW2d 398 (1974) (dissenting opinion by O’Hara, J.).3 We believe this to be the better rule.

[119]*119Had the Court in McCoy intended its prohibition to become immediately effective, it could have used a word other than "publication” in expressing that intention. The Court could have spoken of the date of the opinion, the date of its filing or the date of its release. By using one of these phrases, rather than speaking of publication, the Court would have clearly indicated that it intended its pronouncement to be immediately effective.

Reading "publication” to mean publication in the Advance Sheets of Michigan Reports allows the bench and bar opportunity to become aware that certain practices, formerly allowed, are now considered error. We should not expect reliance on unavailable judicial pronouncements. We conclude that "publication” used in McCoy means appearance in the Advance Sheets of Michigan Reports and that the prohibition in McCoy against certain language in alibi instructions did not become effective at the time of trial of defendant McMillan. We are forced to repudiate prior statements of this Court holding that McCoy became effective on August 2, 1974, the date of the slip opinion. However, moving the date forward to August 30, 1974, casts no doubt upon the validity of any of the opinions as it would not change the result in any of the prior decisions.

The McCoy rule not having been in effect, we find that the alibi instruction given in this case twice informs the jury that proof of alibi is not necessary for acquittal, and emphasizes that the burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt remains with the prosecution. We find these instruc[120]*120tions adequate, as when read in their entirety they satisfied existing standards.

II.

The Cross-Examination

Defendant also alleges that the prosecutor improperly cross-examined her, and that reversal is mandated. On direct examination, McMillan testified that she was 29 years old, divorced, the mother of six children and unemployed. On cross-examination, she stated that she had not been employed since her divorce. The prosecutor then effectively and properly impeached her credibility by forcing her to admit that she had, in fact, worked in two different bars. We agree with Judge Kelly’s determination that reference to the fact that the bars were "topless” was irrelevant and improper. Because, however, we find the remainder of his cross-examination permissible, the reference to topless bars does not require reversal.

III.

Impeachment of Defendant’s Credibility

Defendant next argues that her credibility was improperly impeached in that the prosecutor referred to her prior misdemeanor convictions. Our reading of the record leaves us uncertain as to whether the convictions were for felonies or misdemeanors.

On direct examination, defendant testified that she was in jail at a certain time. On cross-examination, the prosecutor inquired as to the nature of the crimes that defendant had been jailed for:

"Q. Have you been convicted of anything else?

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Bluebook (online)
242 N.W.2d 518, 68 Mich. App. 113, 1976 Mich. App. LEXIS 683, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-mcmillan-michctapp-1976.