People v. Woos

147 N.W.2d 744, 5 Mich. App. 652, 1967 Mich. App. LEXIS 760

• Court: Michigan Court of Appeals
• Decided: January 24, 1967
• Docket: Docket 1,154
• Status: Published

Opinion

Hoppiits, J.

John H. Woos appeals from the trial court’s denial of a motion to withdraw his guilty plea and for new trial. He pleaded guilty in 1944 to murder, and the trial judge determined it to be first degree 1 as it was committed in the course of an armed robbery.

Defendant’s primary claim of appeal is that he did not have counsel and was not advised of his right to have counsel. The arraignment proceedings on February 7, 1944 were transcribed as follows:

“Prosecutor. How do you plead?

“Defendant. Guilty.

“The Court. You plead guilty?

“Defendant. Yes, sir.

“The Court. Do you understand fully the nature of the charge made against you?

“Defendant. Yes, sir.

“The Court. You have been through court proceedings before?

“Defendant. Yes, sir.

“The Court. You are making this plea voluntarily, of your own free will?

“Defendant. Yes, sir.

“The Court. No promises have been made to you or any threats made against you, to induce you to plead guilty?

“Defendant. No, sir.

“The Court. And you did, in fact, kill Floyd Ackerman?

“Defendant. Yes, sir.”

The trial court, 3 days later, held a hearing to determine the degree of the crime. Defendant was not represented by counsel. From arrest to sentencing, defendant was never informed of his right to counsel or that the court would appoint counsel for him upon request.

The Supreme Court of Michigan, since Gideon v. Wainwright (1963), 372 US 335 (83 S Ct 792, 9 L ed 2d 799, 93 ALR2d 733), has had occasion to determine the retroactive effect of Gideon, supra. In re Palmer (1963), 371 Mich 656, involved a murder plea which was made in 1942. The Court stated at pp 662, 663 that “Gideon now requires State trial judges to inform defendants charged with felonies of their right to counsel, and if indigent appoint counsel, unless there is an express waiver.” The Court concluded on p 666:

“This Court need no longer speculate as to whether Gideon will he retroactively applied to pre Gideon cases'. Justice Harlan’s dissenting opinion clearly indicates this is the intent of the United States Supreme Court.

.“The import of Gideon is that any felony prosecution in which an accused is not represented by counsel, and does not expressly waive benefit of counsel, does not fulfill the requirements of a ‘fair trial’ and thus is a denial of due process.

“We, therefore, conclude Gideon is applicable to the instant case.”

The decision in In re Palmer, supra, controls the outcome of this appeal.

Judgment reversed and cause remanded for further proceedings.

Holbrook, P. J., and Burns, J., concurred.

1 CL 1929, § 16708. See, currently, CL 1948, § 750.316 (Stat Ann 1954 Rev § 28.548).