People v. Adkins
People v. Adkins
Opinion of the Court
Defendant, Acy Adkins, was convicted following a jury trial of possession of heroin, MCL 333.7403(2)(a)(iv); MSA 14.15(7403) (2)(a)(iv), and possession of marijuana, MCL 333.7403(2)(d); MSA 14.15(7403)(2)(d), and was sentenced to concurrent terms of two to four years and one year, respectively, with seven days credit. Defendant appeals as of right.
Defendant raises two issues on appeal. The first issue relates to the jury selection process. Trial began on January 16, 1980, with jury voir dire. After 13 prospective jurors had been impanelled, both sides passed for cause. The prosecution then passed for peremptory challenge and defendant exercised a peremptory challenge. This procedure was repeated two more times. However, after defendant had exercised three of his five peremptory challenges, the prosecution then challenged a prospective juror and the trial judge immediately asked defendant if he had a peremptory challenge without replacing the challenged juror. Defendant immediately challenged a juror and two more prospective jurors were put in place of the two that had just been challenged. This procedure was repeated in the next round, and immediately afterward, two more prospective jurors were put in their place. Defendant, having exhausted his peremptory challenges, then attempted to challenge prospective juror James D. Dunlap for cause because Dunlap had worked in the United States Secret Service and knew some of the police involved. The challenge was denied. The prosecution failed to exercise any more of its peremptory challenges. At the end of the trial, Dunlap happened to be the 13th juror stricken from this panel. Defendant failed to object to the jury selection procedure until after the prosecution rested its case.
Although this Court previously took the view that a showing of prejudice was needed to reverse a defendant’s conviction for violation of this court rule,
The people argue that defense counsel’s failure to object precludes reliance on the improper jury selection procedure on appeal. In People v Miller, supra, the Supreme Court specifically stated: "Where, as here, a selection procedure is challenged before the process begins, the failure to follow the procedure prescribed in the rule requires reversal”. (Emphasis added.) 411 Mich 321, 326. The facts in this case differ, however, in a very significant way from the Miller situation. In Miller, the trial court revealed the jury selection procedure more than five weeks before trial. Defense counsel had ample opportunity to object before jury selection in that case. In this case, however, defense counsel had no indication before trial that the struck method would be used. Indeed, jury selection proceeded in compliance with the court rule until the prosecutor exercised his first peremptory challenge. Defense counsel had no opportunity to object before jury selection began.
To require defense counsel to object to the procedure after jury selection began would be unfair to the defendant. Jury selection is probably the most
We emphasize the narrowness of our holding with respect to the failure to object. Where it is impossible or impractical to make an objection out of the presence of the jury we will reverse for failure to comply with the court rule.
We reverse the defendant’s conviction and remand for a new trial. Should the search and seizure question be raised at the new trial, we find that the evidence was properly admitted for the reasons set out in Judge Bronson’s opinion. We note that the question has not been raised whether the courts of this state should reject the United States Supreme Court’s decision in Michigan v Summers, 452 US 692; 101 S Ct 2587; 69 L Ed 2d 340 (1981), on the independent state grounds that the Michigan Constitution affords greater protection than the United States Constitution. Since the question has not been raised, we will not answer it, but our decision does not prevent the question from being raised in a future case.
Reversed and remanded for a new trial.
People v Stein, 90 Mich App 159; 282 NW2d 269 (1979), lv den 411 Mich 880 (1981), People v Miller, 88 Mich App 210; 276 NW2d 558 (1979), rev’d 411 Mich 321; 307 NW2d 335 (1981). Contra, People v Gratz, 35 Mich App 42; 192 NW2d 304 (1971).
Dissenting Opinion
(dissenting). Following a jury trial in the Saginaw County Circuit Court, defendant
Defendant, citing the Michigan Supreme Court opinion in People v Summers, 407 Mich 432; 286 NW2d 226 (1979), contends that the trial court erred in failing to suppress heroin and marijuana found on his person. We agree with defendant that the facts of this case are strikingly similar to those of Summers. However, the United States Supreme Court reversed the decisions of the Michigan appellate courts and found the search in Summers to be lawful. Michigan v Summers, 452 US 692; 101 S Ct 2587; 69 L Ed 2d 340 (1981). Given the United States Supreme Court decision in Summers, this assignment of error presents no basis for reversal.
Defendant also contends that the "struck method” used to impanel the jury at his trial requires reversal. The method of selecting a jury in issue departed from GCR 1963, 511.6, in that each time a prospective juror was removed by peremptory challenge, another potential juror was not immediately called to fill the removed venireman’s place. Thus, defendant was called upon to exercise peremptory challenges when less than a full jury panel was constituted. In this case, pursuant to this method, defendant had exhausted his peremptory challenges by the time a potential juror who had worked for the United States Secret Service and who knew some of the police involved in the arrest was selected. Defendant’s challenge for cause was rejected by the court. However,
In light of the Michigan Supreme Court decision in People v Miller, 411 Mich 321; 307 NW2d 335 (1981), this issue is extremely close. In Miller, the Supreme Court held that a defendant need not establish that he was prejudiced by the jury selection where GCR 1963, 511 is not complied with. The Court also said, however:
"A defendant is entitled to have the jury selected as provided by the rule. Where, as here, a selection procedure is challenged before the process begins, the failure to follow the procedure prescribed in the rule requires reversal. The 'struck jury method’ or any system patterned thereafter is disapproved and may not be used in the future.” Id., 326.
Unlike the situation in Miller, here defendant did not object to the struck method used to select his jury until after the prosecution rested its case. We also note that in this case, the specific juror defendant’s trial counsel desired to have removed ultimately did not participate in the deliberations. While trials conducted after the decisional date of Miller using struck methods of jury selection may have to be reversed even absent a timely objection from defense counsel, the trial in this case was conducted some 18 months before Miller. For these reasons, I would conclude that defendant’s convictions need not be reversed.
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