People v. Blachura

390 Mich. 326 (1973) 212 N.W.2d 182

PEOPLE
v.
BLACHURA

No. 6 May Term 1973, Docket No. 54,133.

Supreme Court of Michigan.

Decided November 20, 1973.

Frank J. Kelley, Attorney General, Robert A. Derengoski, Solicitor General, Thomas G. Plunkett, Prosecuting Attorney, and William G. Wolfrom, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for the people.

Zemke & Lustig, P.C., for defendant.

M.S. COLEMAN, J.

Plaintiff was called before an Oakland County grand jury. As a result of his testimony he was indicted on six counts of perjury. The jury trial ended with defendant being convicted on five counts.

In his motion for a new trial, defendant said that he had been denied the right to have counsel present during his examination before the grand jury. The circuit judge agreed finding such denial to be a violation of constitutional and statutory rights. A new trial was ordered as to two counts and the remaining three were dismissed with prejudice.

The prosecutor sought and was granted emergency leave to appeal by the Court of Appeals. Defendant was granted leave to appeal this decision of the Court of Appeals. In his own words, defendant "is appealing only the narrow issue of whether or not the Court of Appeals has jurisdiction" in this matter.

The resolution of the issue in this case requires an interpretation and meshing of various constitutional and statutory provisions in conjunction with the 1963 General Court Rules.

The matter is a case of first impression as to this Court.

Constitution

As all else herein flows from an interpretation of two sections of the 1963 Const, we begin with that aspect of the problem.

Art 6, § 4 provides in full:

"The supreme court shall have general superintending control over all courts; power to issue, hear and determine prerogative and remedial writs; and appellate jurisdiction as provided by rules of the supreme court. The supreme court shall not have the power to remove a judge."^[1]

The full text of art 6, § 10 is:

"The jurisdiction of the court of appeals shall be provided by law and the practice and procedure therein shall be prescribed by rules of the supreme court."

Of primary importance are two basic rules of constitutional construction.

1. Every statement in a state constitution must be interpreted in the light of the whole document.

2. Because fundamental constitutional principles are of equal dignity, none must be so construed as to nullify or substantially impair another.

If art 6, § 4 and § 10 are not to be in conflict, § 4 must apply to the appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, concerning which it may promulgate rules. Section 10 plainly applies to the Court of Appeals and just as plainly states that jurisdiction therein shall be provided by law.

We, therefore, look to the statutes to determine appellate jurisdiction in this matter.

Statutes

Two statutes are argued as being in conflict.

A statute last amended in 1942 is quoted often in argument. MCLA 770.12, MSA 28.1109 provides in part:

"A writ of error may be taken by and on behalf of the people of the state of Michigan from any court of record in said state direct to the supreme court thereof, in all criminal cases in the following instances, to wit:

"(a) From a decision or judgment quashing or setting aside any indictment or information, or any count thereof, where such decision or judgment is based upon the invalidity or construction of the statute upon which such indictment or information is founded."

This statute was passed and last amended long before the 1963 Const became effective bringing with it a new court, the Court of Appeals.

Defendant argues that this provision explicitly limits the matters which the prosecution may bring for review to the Court of Appeals. He contends that the quashing of the three counts was not "based upon the invalidity or construction of the statute" but upon constitutional grounds. (Actually, it was on both grounds.) The prosecutor implies that this statute is outdated and superseded by art 6, § 10 of the 1963 Const and by the statute set forth in MCLA 600.308; MSA 27A.308 which provides in full:

"The court of appeals has jurisdiction on appeals from:

"(1) All final judgments from the circuit courts, court of claims, and recorder's court, except judgments on ordinance violations in the traffic and ordinance division of recorder's court. Appeals from final judgments from all other courts and from convictions for ordinance violations in the traffic and ordinance division of recorder's court shall be taken to the circuit courts, upon which further review may be had only upon application for leave to appeal granted by the court of appeals.

"(2) Such other judgments or interlocutory orders as the supreme court may by rule determine."

(The two statutes set forth above will hereinafter be referred to as 770.12 and 600.308.)

It is pertinent to this analysis to note that 770.12 was last amended in 1942, long before the new constitution established the Court of Appeals and therein directed that its jurisdiction should be established by law.

600.308 was written pursuant to that constitutional direction. GCR 1963, 801, also adopted pursuant to the new constitution, provides § 3 which is headed "Statutory Jurisdiction of Court of Appeals" and repeats the language of 600.308. It refers to all final judgments.

770.12, on the other hand, predated the 1963 Const and was addressed to old writs of error coming before the Supreme Court. It cannot logically be said that 770.12 is the answer to the constitutional directive to establish, by law, jurisdiction of the Court of Appeals. This Court finds inapplicable the cases decided by the Court prior to the existence of the Court of Appeals^[2] and relied upon heavily by defendant. We do not believe this provision, now inapplicable to procedure in this Court, should be judicially rewritten so as to limit jurisdiction in the Court of Appeals.

MCLA 600.308 and GCR 1963, 801.3 give the Court of Appeals jurisdiction on appeals from all final judgments of the circuit courts. This obviously does not restrict the right of the people to appeal. GCR 1963, 806.1 says, in part, that in all cases "an aggrieved party shall have a right to appeal from all final judgments or final orders from the circuit courts * * *." This obviously does not restrict the right of the people to appeal.^[3] GCR 1963, 806.2(2) gives the Court of Appeals the discretion to grant leave from any "judgment, order, act or failure to act by the circuit courts * * * which is not a final judgment appealable as of right." This obviously does not restrict the right of the people to seek leave to appeal.

We are aware that GCR 1963, 801.1 says that when "review by the Supreme Court * * * is authorized by law, review shall be had by appeal to the Court of Appeals * * *." Some argue that this provision renders 770.12 applicable to the lower court. We have expressed our belief that 770.12 constitutionally cannot and does not restrict our jurisdiction. Such review is, therefore, not authorized by law as required by the rule. GCR 1963, 801.1 also "refers only to the court and method of review and does not restrict, enlarge or change the right or scope of review provided by law, except as explicitly set out in these rules." The right and scope of review in the Court of Appeals is set down in the constitution and such legislation and court rules as were enacted pursuant to it. We conclude that a statute referring to Supreme Court review and dealing with a now obsolete court structure and using terms of art alien to many modern practitioners should not be viewed as the type of statute envisioned by the drafters of GCR 1963, 801.1. Indeed the contrary must be concluded by the wording of 801.3.

Summary

Art 6, § 10 provides that the jurisdiction of the Court of Appeals be established by law. Pursuant to this directive the statute set forth in 600.308 was enacted providing in part for Court of Appeals jurisdiction over "all final judgments". Thereafter, GCR 1963, 801.3 recognized 600.308 as the statute setting forth the jurisdiction of the Court of Appeals by incorporating the statutory language and designating that section as "Statutory Jurisdiction of Court of Appeals."

We conclude that traditional legal reasoning and a common-sense construction of the constitutional provisions, statutes and court rules result in affirming the Court of Appeals' grant of leave to appeal in this case. We remand for a hearing on the merits.

T.E. BRENNAN, SWAINSON, and WILLIAMS, JJ., concurred with M.S. COLEMAN, J.

LEVIN, J. (concurring in part and dissenting in part).

The Court of Appeals granted the prosecutor's application for leave to appeal from an order entered on defendant Blachura's motion for a new trial following his conviction by a jury.

The order so appealed provides:

"IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the defendant be and hereby is granted a new trial herein.

"IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Counts IV, V, and VI are quashed and dismissed with prejudice (defendant herein having heretofore been acquitted on Count III), and

"IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the defendant proceed to trial only upon Counts I and II."

We are of the opinion that so much of the order as grants a new trial on Counts I and II is not appealable to the Court of Appeals, but so much of the order as dismisses Counts IV, V and VI of the indictment is so appealable as an order "relative to * * * proceedings had or made at any time before the defendant is put in jeopardy." MCLA 770.12; MSA 28.1109.^[1]

We do not agree that MCLA 770.12; MSA 28.1109, providing for prosecutor appeals, has been superseded by MCLA 600.308; MSA 27A.308 and GCR 1963, 801.3, 806.1, 806.2.

I

The Constitution provides that "[t]he jurisdiction of the court of appeals shall be provided by law and the practice and procedure therein shall be prescribed by rules of the supreme court." Const 1963, art 6, § 10.

Pursuant to this constitutional provision, the Legislature has provided (RJA § 308):

"The court of appeals has jurisdiction on appeals from:

"(1) All final judgments from the circuit courts * * *

"(2) Such other judgments or interlocutory orders as the supreme court may by rule determine." MCLA 600.308; MSA 27A.308.

GCR 1963, 801.3 merely reiterates that statutorily prescribed jurisdiction of the Court of Appeals and, accordingly, adds nothing.

GCR 1963, 806 provides:

".1 Appeal as of Right. In all criminal and civil matters, an aggrieved party shall have a right to appeal from all final judgments or final orders from the circuit courts * * *

".2 Appeal by Leave. The Court of Appeals may grant leave to appeal from: * * *

"(2) Any judgment, order, act or failure to act by the circuit courts * * *, which is not a final judgment appealable as of right."

II

Although literally RJA § 308 and Rule 806 can be read as conferring on the prosecutor a right of appeal from any final judgment, such a construction is at odds with the entire history of prosecutor appeals both in this jurisdiction and elsewhere.

In establishing the jurisdiction of the new Court of Appeals in RJA § 308 (added to the Revised Judicature Act after the 1963 Constitution was adopted [1964 PA 281]), the Legislature did not thoughtlessly eliminate the traditional distinction between prosecutor and defendant appeals. It meant only to establish the jurisdiction of this new intermediate appellate court, including implementation of the new right of the accused in a criminal prosecution to "have an appeal as a matter of right". Const 1963, art 1, § 20.

Parenthetically, if the prosecutor may appeal a "final judgment" under RJA § 308(1), his appeal is not on leave granted but as a matter of right. The very same Revised Judicature Act which provides that the Court of Appeals has jurisdiction on appeals from final judgments goes on to provide that "[a]ll appeals to the Court of Appeals from final judgments or decisions permitted by this act shall be a matter of right." MCLA 600.309; MSA 27A.309.

Nor did this Court, any more so than the Legislature, intend in adopting Rule 806 to authorize prosecutor appeals except as theretofore recognized, even though Rule 806 could be read as permitting the prosecutor to appeal any final judgment or order as a matter of right and any other judgment, order, act or failure to act upon leave granted.

Until today no one — including prosecutors — has ever suggested that the Court of Appeals may entertain an appeal by a prosecutor from every final judgment and, inferentially, from every other judgment, order, act or failure to act.

III

The Michigan Legislature has gone further than most, but not as far as others, in granting prosecutors access to the appellate process.^[2]

In 1917 it was provided that a writ of error might be taken to this Court from certain orders "based upon the invalidity or construction of [a] statute." 1917 PA 159. This language was incorporated in the Code of Criminal Procedure (1927 PA 175, ch X, § 12; 1929 CL 17366) and has been carried forward to the present without substantive change. In 1941 this provision of the Code of Criminal Procedure was amended by adding the following language, which, together with the former language, is now MCLA 770.12; MSA 28.1109 (see fn 1):

"(c) From the decision or judgment sustaining a special plea in bar, when the defendant has not been put in jeopardy, or from any other order of the court relative to admission of evidence or proceedings had or made at any time before the defendant is put in jeopardy."

Under the 1941 amendment a prosecutor may appeal from a wide variety of orders, those

— "sustaining a special plea in bar";

— "relative to admission of evidence";

— "relative to * * * proceedings had or made"; all subject to the limitation that the order was entered at a time "before the defendant is put in jeopardy", i.e., before he is put to trial before the trier of fact.

It is apparent that the Legislature intended to make possible prosecutor appeals from almost any kind of order entered before the defendant is put to trial before the trier of fact, but not to allow appeals from rulings made during the course of trial. Whether this was out of concern that a trial already in progress might be delayed or that an appeal might give rise to a successful double jeopardy defense is unclear but, whatever the reason, that was the balance the Legislature chose to strike in expanding the scope of prosecutorial appeal.

In this case the circuit judge has granted the defendant a new trial. Under MCLA 770.12; MSA 28.1109 that is not an appealable order; in most jurisdictions such an order is not appealable. However, since there is going to be a new trial and the defendant has not as yet been put in jeopardy in regard to the new trial, we would read the order as if the judge had granted a new trial and then dismissed Counts IV through VI, thereby making the dismissal portion of the order an order "relative to * * * proceedings had or made at any time before the defendant is put in jeopardy."

IV

This Court does indeed have the power under Michigan's Constitution to entertain an appeal to this Court from any order entered by any other court as the Constitution provides that the Supreme Court shall have "appellate jurisdiction as provided by rules of the Supreme Court." Const 1963, art 6, § 4. However, this provision granting this Court plenary control of its appellate jurisdiction does not confer on us the power to control the jurisdiction of the Court of Appeals. The Constitution provides, rather, as previously mentioned, that the jurisdiction of the Court of Appeals "shall be provided by law"; i.e., by the Legislature (Const 1963, art 6, § 10). This Court is constitutionally authorized in this regard to prescribe rules only as to "the practice and procedure" in the Court of Appeals. Const 1963, art 6, § 10.

We would, however, construe the statute establishing the jurisdiction of the Court of Appeals, RJA § 308, "[s]uch other judgments or interlocutory orders as the supreme court may by rule determine," as authorizing this Court to provide by rule for prosecutor appeals to the Court of Appeals and, thus, as granting this Court the power to expand the scope of prosecutorial appeal beyond that set forth in MCLA 770.12; MSA 28.1109. We have not as yet exercised that power.

V

While the scope of prosecutorial appeal has not been expanded by statute or court rule beyond the cases delineated in the Code of Criminal Procedure (MCLA 770.12; MSA 28.1109), a prosecutor is not without recourse if before, during or after trial a judge enters an order allegedly erroneous which, however, is not appealable.^[3]

GCR 1963, 711.4 provides that the Court of Appeals, as well as this Court and the circuit court, has "jurisdiction to issue superintending control orders to inferior courts and tribunals." By this rule this Court "delegated" to the Court of Appeals "the power to issue such writs [of superintending control] in respect of a particular error in an actual case and controversy." Morcom v Recorder's Court Judges, 15 Mich App 358; 166 NW2d 540 (1968).^[4]

In People v Flint Municipal Judge, 383 Mich 429, 432; 175 NW2d 750 (1970), this Court recognized the power of the Court of Appeals to issue a writ of superintending control but held that a complaint seeking such a writ to review action of a municipal judge should be directed to the circuit court not to the Court of Appeals, and said of a proceeding seeking such a writ: "The process is not, properly speaking, an appeal. It is rather a whole new lawsuit, with different parties and different purposes."

In Genesee Prosecutor v Genesee Circuit Judge, 386 Mich 672; 194 NW2d 693 (1972), this Court quoted the above quoted statement in Flint Municipal Judge and held that the Court of Appeals has the power to correct by a writ of superintending control an error of law of a circuit judge in accepting a plea of guilty to an offense other than the offense charged by the prosecutor.^[5]

When an application for a writ of superintending control is sought during a trial, it is essential, lest the trial be unduly impeded, that the parties proceed and the appellate court decide expeditiously.

VI

We favor the establishment of a study committee composed of members of the prosecutor and defense bar to advise this Court concerning the desirability of promulgating a court rule regarding prosecutor recourse to the appellate process.

We would remand to the Court of Appeals for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

T.M. KAVANAGH, C.J., and T.G. KAVANAGH, J., concurred with LEVIN, J.

NOTES

[1] Appellee argues the applicability of § 4 to review by the Court of Appeals and cites People v Brundage, 381 Mich 399; 162 NW2d 659 (1968). The case itself concerned appeal to the Supreme Court. Reference is made to the remarks of Justice O'HARA, who said,

"[T]o the extent that [MCLA 770.12; MSA 28.1109] purports to limit our appellate jurisdiction it is constitutionally infirm. Our appellate jurisdiction is constitutional. It can neither be enlarged nor restricted by legislative action." (p 403.)

Justice ADAMS, writing for the majority, agreed, saying

"I agree with Justice O'HARA that by virtue of article 6, § 4, Constitution of 1963, the Supreme Court has appellate jurisdiction in criminal cases. Under our present Court Rules (GCR 1963), jurisdiction may be exercised in a given case upon grant of leave whether the decision of a lower court be in favor of or adverse to the State." (p 407.)

Although this Court affirms the constitutional thrust of Brundage, we do not agree that art 6, § 4 purports to authorize the Supreme Court to provide rules concerning jurisdiction of the Court of Appeals.

[2] This Court in People v Ballots, 252 Mich 282; 233 NW 229 (1930) faced

"the question of whether review by writ of error can be had by the people in this case. Without statutory authorization the people cannot review a criminal case by writ of error."

The statute under consideration was the predecessor to 770.12. Defendant had been convicted in justice court and on appeal the circuit court quashed the complaint. Our Court concluded at 284:

"Clearly, review by the people in this case does not come within the mentioned statute, for decision in the circuit court was not based upon the invalidity or construction of the ordinance upon which the complaint was founded.

"We have no jurisdiction. The writ of error is dismissed."

Similar results were reached in People v Ballard, 220 Mich 500; 190 NW 242 (1922) and People v Rau, 220 Mich 502; 190 NW 243 (1922).

In People v Woodward, 215 Mich 267; 183 NW 901 (1921), the Court said at 269:

"It is obvious from the provisions of the act that the legislature contemplated the issuance of a writ of error in behalf of the people only when the indictment was attacked upon the ground of the invalidity or construction of the statute upon which the indictment was based. In the present case the indictment was not attacked and the validity of the statute was in no way questioned. The ground upon which the judgment of conviction was attacked was the fact that the conviction was brought about by evidence illegally obtained. It was shown without question that the officers disobeyed the plain provisions of the statute in obtaining the evidence. Without this illegal evidence there was not sufficient proof to sustain the indictment. By reason of this, we think defendant's point is well taken; that we have no jurisdiction to consider the assignments."

[3] It should be well noted that the people's ability to appeal as of right is not given the constitutional backing that Const 1963, art 1, § 20 affords the accused in a criminal prosecution. The people's right is provided by court rule. A conflict between such rule and a constitutional protection afforded an individual in a criminal prosecution generally should be resolved in favor of the latter. We know, however, that leave may not be granted if the defendant's right against double jeopardy would be violated thereby.

[1] "Sec. 12. A writ of error may be taken by and on behalf of the people of the state of Michigan from any court of record in said state direct to the supreme court thereof, in all criminal cases, in the following instances, to wit:

"(a) From a decision or judgment quashing or setting aside any indictment or information, or any count thereof, where such decision or judgment is based upon the invalidity or construction of the statute upon which such indictment or information is founded;

"(b) From a decision arresting a judgment of conviction or directing a judgment of acquittal for insufficiency of the indictment, where such decision is based upon the invalidity or construction of the statute upon which such indictment or information is founded;

"(c) From the decision or judgment sustaining a special plea in bar, when the defendant has not been put in jeopardy, or from any other order of the court relative to admission of evidence or proceedings had or made at any time before the defendant is put in jeopardy.

"The right of the defendant to bail upon issuance of a writ of error under the provisions of this section shall be governed by the provisions of chapter 5 of this act." MCLA 770.12; MSA 28.1109.

[2] The subject of prosecutor appeals is discussed in some detail in Standards Relating to Criminal Appeals, § 1.4, American Bar Association Project on Minimum Standards for Criminal Justice. It appears that some states permit no appeal by a prosecutor, while others permit the prosecutor to appeal just as the defendant except following a judgment of acquittal. Still others take an intermediate position, similar to that expressed in the recommended standard which permits appeals in many of the same situations as does our MCLA § 770.12; MSA 28.1109, viz.:

"1.4 Prosecution appeals.

"(a) The prosecution should be permitted to appeal in the following situations:

"(i) from judgments dismissing an indictment or information on substantive grounds, such as the unconstitutionality of the statute under which the charge was brought, or for failure of the charging instrument to state an offense under the statute;

"(ii) from other pretrial orders that terminate the prosecution, such as upholding the defenses of double jeopardy, autrefois convict, autrefois acquit, or denial of speedy trial;

"(iii) from pretrial orders that seriously impede, although they do not technically foreclose, prosecution, such as orders granting pretrial motions to suppress evidence or pretrial motions to have confessions declared involuntary and inadmissible.

"Such judgments are likely to rest upon principles that ought to be clearly and uniformly applied throughout the state.

"(b) Where more than one level of appellate review is provided, the prosecution should be permitted to seek further review in the highest court whenever an intermediate court has ruled in favor of a defendant-appellant.

"(c) In an appeal at the instance of the prosecution, special provision should be made as to the custody of the defendant. A defendant should not be denied liberty pending determination of such an appeal unless there is cogent evidence that he will not abide by the judgment of the appellate court."

[3] Cf. People v Carl Smith, 39 Mich App 337; 197 NW2d 528 (1972).

[4] The Court of Appeals early recognized that the superintending control power conferred on it differs from the general superintending control vested by the Constitution (Const 1963, art 6, § 4) in this Court; the Morcum Court stated (p 360):

"While GCR 1963, 711 as so amended could be read as conferring on our Court the same power the Supreme Court enjoys, we are persuaded that the Supreme Court has delegated to us only the power to issue such writs in respect of a particular error in an actual case and controversy, and that we have not been delegated superintending control over the general practices of an inferior court or any judge thereof."

Subsequently, in Genesee Prosecutor v Genesee Circuit Judge, 386 Mich 672, 680-681; 194 NW2d 693 (1972), this Court stated:

"The Supreme Court has by GCR 1963, 711 provided that the Court of Appeals has the power to issue superintending control orders which are in the nature of certiorari, mandamus and prohibition.

"This superintending control has nothing to do with the general supervisory superintending control over all courts given to the Supreme Court by art 6, § 4 of the 1963 Constitution or the supervisory and general control over inferior courts and tribunals within their respective jurisdictions in accordance with rules of the Supreme Court, given the circuit courts by art 6, § 13 of the 1963 Constitution.

"No general control of inferior courts exists in the Court of Appeals."

[5] The offense to which the plea of guilty was accepted was a lesser added, not a lesser included, offense.