People v. Jenkins, Docket No. 1869

Decision Date26 March 1968
Docket NumberDocket No. 1869,No. 2,2
PartiesPEOPLE of the State of Michigan, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Sidney JENKINS, Defendant-Appellant
CourtCourt of Appeal of Michigan — District of US

Edwin W. Jakeway, Flint, for appellant.

Frank J. Kelley, Atty. Gen., Robert A. Derengoski, Sol. Gen., Lansing, Robert F. Leonard, Pros. Atty., Donald A. Kuebler, Paul G. Miller, Jr., Asst. Pros. Attys., Genesee County, Flint, for appellee.

Before T. G. KAVANAGH, P.J., and FITZGERALD and McGREGOR, JJ.

McGREGOR, Judge.

This is an appeal from Genesee county circuit court. Defendant was tried and convicted of armed robbery 1 and murder 2 in the perpetration of robbery. This robbery, in which 2 people were killed and others were wounded, purportedly caused a great deal of notoriety in the community. The robbery took place on September 17, 1965, and the trial was held on December 1, 1965. At commencement of trial, defense counsel made a motion for continuance, or, in the alternative, a change of venue. Both motions were denied. Voir dire commenced and it was found that a substantial number of those jurors interviewed had read or heard of the case. After the jury was selected and sworn, the defense renewed its motion for a change of venue, which was denied. The prosecution presented its case, consisting of testimony of those present during the robbery, the investigating police officers, and a pathologist. Defense presented its case, consisting of an accounting of defendant's actions during the time following the robbery, and two alibi witnesses accounting for his presence elsewhere at the time of the robbery. The jury returned a verdict of guilty.

Defendant raises several claims of reversible error: the first is that his motion for change of venue was improperly denied in the face of extensive radio, television and newspaper coverage. Of the publicity complained of, all we have is the testimony that there were some radio broadcasts and copies of newspaper articles. The articles recount the happening, describe the gunman as a frenzied killer, carry a picture of the defendant describing him as a suspect, and relate the state of proceedings against defendant on another charge.

The grant of a change of venue is in the discretion of the trial court. This discretion is limited and capable of review where there is an abuse of discretion manifestly subversive of justice. People v. Swift (1912), 172 Mich. 473, 138 N.W. 662. Discretion in the trial court is not a private, arbitrary or personal discretion, but must be exercised according to the established principles of law. People v. Gage (1915), 188 Mich. 635, 155 N.W. 464. The better rule as to the course of action to be taken where there is a motion for change of venue is reservation of a decision by the trial court on the motion until an attempt has been made to obtain a fair and impartial jury. People v. Dailey (1967), 6 Mich.App. 99, 148 N.W.2d 209.

Jurors who have heard of or have read of the case, without more, are not disqualified as jurors, and their inclusion does not deny defendant a fair trial. See People v. Quimby (1903), 134 Mich. 625, 96 N.W. 1061; People v. Schneider (1944), 309 Mich. 158, 14 N.W.2d 819; People v. Dailey, supra. A juror who has formed an opinion may not be challenged for cause, providing the opinion is not positive in character, and he may render an impartial verdict. C.L.1948, § 768.10 (Stat.Ann.1958 Rev. § 28.1033). In this case, all jurors who sat stated that they had no fixed opinion as to the guilt or innocence of the accused and that they could render a fair and impartial verdict.

Counsel refers us to a decision on due process of law as provided by the 14th Amendment, regarding a fair trial, as binding on our determinations in this matter. It is true that a trial judge may not allow the press to interfere with the course of trial or allow the decision to be based on extraneous publicity. Sheppard v. Maxwell (1966), 384 U.S. 333, 86 S.Ct. 1507, 16 L.Ed.2d 600. This situation, however, is not alleged to be present in this case. We deal with the problem of prior information and community feeling as affecting a defendant's right to a fair trial. We are referred to and examine in detail the decision of Irvin v. Dowd (1961), 366 U.S. 717, 81 S.Ct. 1639, 6 L.Ed.2d 751, and regard it as controlling. In American and Anglo-Saxon jurisprudence there is the invaluable right to jury. It must be a panel of impartial jurors. There must be a fair tribunal which renders a verdict on evidence presented at trial for a proceeding to meet the minimum standards of due process. It is not necessary that he be without impression or opinion. They must, however, be able to lay aside their impressions and base their verdict on the evidence. Where there is strong community feeling and a pattern of deep and bitter prejudice in the community, the influence of that opinion makes a strong impression, nearly impossible to detach from the mental processes of the average man. Trial under such influence denies due process. The burden of showing the existence of these conditions is on the challenger.

The defense has shown that there were newspaper articles and that some of the jurors had read or heard of the case. This showing, without more, is not sufficient. Defense presents no evidence of a strong community feeling. The trial judge in the community has his senses and personal knowledge of the community to detect this community feeling. An appellate court has only the cold record upon which to rely. There must be a definite, clear showing of abuse of discretion to overturn the trial judge's decision to commence or to acquiesce in the continuance of a trial. Such a showing has not been made in this case either in the denial of a change of venue or in the denial of a continuance. The first claims of error are resolved against the defendant.

Defendant next claims that the defense should have been able to ask a prospective juror on Voir dire how he would decide the case if the testimony were equally divided. In order to buttress this argument, defendant cites People v. Keefer (1893), 97 Mich. 15, 56 N.W. 105, and People v. O'Neill (1895), 107 Mich. 556, 65 N.W. 540. Cases written before the beginning of this century, for which no recent precedential use can be found by competent counsel, must be closely examined. Close examination of these older precedents, which are now viewed on pages which have become yellowed and cracked with age, often reveals that the precedents themselves have not worn well. More recent cases on questions of Voir dire have emphasized that the latitude of Voir dire interrogations is...

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  • People v. Morrin
    • United States
    • Court of Appeal of Michigan — District of US
    • March 16, 1971
    ...People v. Becker (1942), 300 Mich. 562, 2 N.W.2d 503; People v. Freeman (1965), 1 Mich.App. 63, 134 N.W.2d 389; People v. Jenkins (1968), 10 Mich.App. 257, 159 N.W.2d 225.62 People v. Schultz (1946), 316 Mich. 106, 25 N.W.2d 128; People v. Kronk (1950), 326 Mich. 744, 40 N.W.2d 788.63 See A......
  • People v. Partee
    • United States
    • Court of Appeal of Michigan — District of US
    • January 20, 1984
    ...160 , Collins, supra [43 Mich.App.] 263 ." People v. Nixon, 114 Mich.App. 233, 318 N.W.2d 655 (1982). In People v. Jenkins, 10 Mich.App. 257, 261, 159 N.W.2d 225 (1968), lv. den. 381 Mich. 757 (1968), this Court made the following " 'Jurors who have heard of or have read of the case, withou......
  • People v. Jones, Docket No. 13164
    • United States
    • Court of Appeal of Michigan — District of US
    • July 23, 1973
    ...People v. Allen, 351 Mich. 535, 88 N.W.2d 433 (1958); People v. Lambo, 8 Mich.App. 320, 154 N.W.2d 583 (1967); People v. Jenkins, 10 Mich.App. 257, 159 N.W.2d 225 (1968). This Court in People v. Talison, 21 Mich.App. 459, 175 N.W.2d 519 (1970), considered and denied the same challenge that ......
  • People v. Prast
    • United States
    • Court of Appeal of Michigan — District of US
    • April 23, 1981
    ...People v. Stockard, 48 Mich.App. 680, 211 N.W.2d 62 (1973), aff'd 391 Mich. 481, 219 N.W.2d 68 (1974). In People v. Jenkins, 10 Mich.App. 257, 261-262, 159 N.W.2d 225 (1968), this Court suggested an oft-quoted analysis of the effect of pretrial publicity on a defendant's right to a fair "Ju......
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