People v. Mathis, Docket No. 78-3544
Decision Date | 01 October 1979 |
Docket Number | Docket No. 78-3544 |
Citation | 285 N.W.2d 414,92 Mich.App. 670 |
Parties | PEOPLE of the State of Michigan, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Frank MATHIS, Defendant-Appellant. 92 Mich.App. 670, 285 N.W.2d 414 |
Court | Court of Appeal of Michigan — District of US |
[92 MICHAPP 671] Charles T. Burke, Livonia, for defendant-appellant.
Frank J. Kelley, Atty. Gen., Robert A. Derengoski, Sol. Gen., William L. Cahalan, Pros. Atty., Edward R. Wilson, III, App. Chief, Asst. Pros. Atty., for plaintiff-appellee.
Before KELLY, P. J., and R. B. BURNS and BASHARA, JJ.
The defendant was charged with assault with intent to murder in violation of M.C.L. § 750.83; M.S.A. § 28.278. Following a jury trial in Detroit Recorder's Court he was convicted of assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, contrary to M.C.L. § 750.84; M.S.A. § 28.279. On July 14, 1978, he was sentenced to 61/2 to 10 years imprisonment and appeals of right raising three issues.
Defendant first claims that the sentence violated constitutional standards in that the trial court penalized the defendant for exercising his right to have a jury trial instead of pleading guilty. Defendant analogizes to the United States Supreme [92 MICHAPP 672] Court's holding in North Carolina v. Pearce, 395 U.S. 711, 89 S.Ct. 2072, 23 L.Ed.2d 656 (1969) wherein the Court held that an increased sentence upon reconviction of a defendant, after having had his original conviction set aside, must affirmatively appear to be free of vindictiveness on the part of the sentencing judge:
395 U.S. at 726, 89 S.Ct. at 2081.
This case is not on all fours with Pearce because it does not involve a reconviction, but it is well-settled that a sentencing judge may not take into consideration a defendant's refusal to plead guilty in determining the sentence. People v. Travis, 85 Mich.App. 297, 303, 271 N.W.2d 208 (1978), People v. Earegood, 383 Mich. 82, 84-85, 173 N.W.2d 205 (1970). The basis for this claim of error is a recorded conference that took place in the trial court's chambers immediately preceding commencement of trial. Defendant and his mother were present in chambers when the following discourse took place:
Neither defendant nor plaintiff enlighten us with a context surrounding the trial court's reference to the discussion of "a week ago". The record does not show any pretrial hearing occurring the week prior. Apparently the pretrial was conducted on May 11th because there is a form in the record entitled "Final Conference Memorandum" which includes the following information:
This form is not signed, but bears signature lines for counsel for defense, assistant prosecuting attorney and defendant.
A motion was praeciped for June 2, 1978, before Judge Gillis on behalf of a co-defendant designated as a "motion to have juror questionnaire produced in courtroom on day of trial". The co-defendant pleaded on June 8, 1978, before Judge Gillis. There is nothing in the record that has anything to do with any proceeding in this case that took place a week prior to the trial date. We have no record of any kind which describes the context in which a communication with the defense lawyer was made regarding a one to twenty sentence.
This case presents a good example of difficulties which can arise when a trial judge actively participates in the plea bargaining process. We have said in dicta that trial courts should not actively participate in plea bargaining negotiations. People v. Bennett, 84 Mich.App. 408, 269 N.W.2d 618 (1978), Lv. den. 405 Mich. 835 (1979). We are well aware that in an overburdened high-crime population center trial courts are disposed...
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People v. Dixon, Docket No. 48463
...court, since it is well established that the trial courts are not to participate in bargaining negotiations. People v. Mathis, 92 Mich.App. 670, 674, 285 N.W.2d 414 (1979); People v. Bennett, 84 Mich.App. 408, 269 N.W.2d 618 (1978); lv. den. 405 Mich. 835 (1979). The trial judge failed to f......
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