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People v. Anderson, No. 1 January Term 1974, Docket No. 54,307 (Supreme Court of Michigan, Apr. 16, 1974)

Factual and Procedural Background

James Lee Anderson was convicted of armed robbery (MCLA 750.529; MSA 28.797). At trial, five witnesses who identified him had previously identified him at photographic showings. Those photo showings occurred while Anderson was in custody in connection with another offense (and apparently under suspicion for the armed robbery charged here). Anderson was not represented by counsel at the photo showings. The Court of Appeals remanded the matter to the trial court for an evidentiary hearing to determine whether the investigation had focused on Anderson and whether the photo showings were impermissibly suggestive and, if suggestive, whether the identifications had an independent source. The Court of Appeals also directed that, if no new trial resulted from the remand hearing, Anderson be resentenced before a different judge because the trial judge had indicated at sentencing that he believed Anderson had protected a codefendant, and that belief had influenced sentencing. The people appealed to this Court. The Supreme Court of Michigan affirmed the Court of Appeals in part, reversed in part, and remanded to the trial court for an evidentiary hearing; it also addressed the resentencing issue.

Legal Issues Presented

  1. Whether a defendant has a right to counsel at photographic showings when those showings occur while the defendant is in custody for another offense but before formal adversary proceedings (formal complaint/arrest warrant) on the charged offense have begun, in light of United States Supreme Court decisions such as Kirby v. Illinois and United States v. Ash.
  2. Whether the photographic showings at issue were impermissibly suggestive, whether identifications stemming from them had an independent source, and thus whether an evidentiary hearing is required to resolve those questions.
  3. Whether the trial judge's consideration, at sentencing, of a belief that the defendant had protected a codefendant (thereby penalizing the defendant for remaining silent at trial) required resentencing before a different judge.

Arguments of the Parties

Prosecutor's Arguments

  • The prosecutor contended that Anderson did not have a right to counsel at the photo showings because the showings occurred before a formal complaint had been filed and before an arrest warrant had been issued on the armed robbery charge, citing Kirby v. Illinois (406 U.S. 682 (1972)).
  • The prosecutor also relied on United States v. Ash (413 U.S. 300 (1973)) to argue that the Sixth Amendment right to counsel does not apply to photographic showings.

The opinion does not contain a detailed account of the defendant's specific legal arguments in this appeal beyond reliance on state precedents and the procedural relief sought by the Court of Appeals.

Table of Precedents Cited

Precedent Rule or Principle Cited For Application by the Court
Kirby v Illinois, 406 U.S. 682; 92 S Ct 1877; 32 L Ed 2d 411 (1972) Cited by the prosecutor to support the contention that the presence of counsel is not required at events prior to the beginning of adversary criminal proceedings. The Court acknowledged the prosecutor's reliance on Kirby but, in light of state authority (People v Jackson and People v [Franklin] Anderson), did not treat Kirby as controlling to deny a state-created right to counsel at photo showings while in custody.
United States v Ash, 413 U.S. 300; 93 S Ct 2568; 37 L Ed 2d 619 (1973) Cited by the prosecutor to argue that the Sixth Amendment right to counsel does not apply to photo showings. The Court considered Ash (as addressed in People v Jackson) but applied Michigan law recognizing a right to counsel at photo showings absent exigent circumstances.
People v [Franklin] Anderson, 389 Mich. 155; 205 N.W.2d 461 (1973) Held that a photo showing should not be used where a corporeal lineup could be held, and that custody in such situations requires implementation of protections including counsel at photo showings when a corporeal lineup cannot be held. The Court applied and reaffirmed the rule of People v [Franklin] Anderson, holding that the fact of custody (not the reason or place of custody) requires application of that rule here.
People v Jackson, 391 Mich. 323; 217 N.W.2d 22 (1974) Considered Kirby and Ash and held, independent of any federal constitutional right, that Michigan recognizes a right to counsel at such showings except in exigent circumstances requiring an immediate showing. The Court relied on People v Jackson to support remanding the case for an evidentiary hearing and to assert a state-created right to counsel at photo showings absent exigent circumstances.
Scott v United States, 135 US App DC 377; 419 F.2d 264 (1969) Discussed for the principle that a judge may not impose additional punishment because he believes the defendant committed perjury; such matters should be prosecuted as separate offenses with full protections. The Court equated the trial judge's consideration of his belief that Anderson was shielding a codefendant with the error found in Scott, supporting the conclusion that resentencing before a different judge is required if no new trial is granted.
People v White, 130 Ill. App.2d 775; 267 N.E.2d 129 (1971) Referenced as a similar authority to Scott concerning improper reliance on a judge's belief about defendant's conduct in sentencing. Used as additional support for the view that the trial judge erred in considering his belief that Anderson protected a codefendant when sentencing.
People v McFarlin, 389 Mich. 557; 208 N.W.2d 504 (1973) Addressed what may be considered at sentencing; specifically, that a sentencing judge may consider the juvenile record of a defendant. The Court noted this decision as a related sentencing principle but did not alter the remand/resentencing directive based on the judge's improper consideration of Anderson's alleged protective conduct.
42 Mich. App. 10 The Court of Appeals decision in this case (affirmed in part and reversed in part by the Supreme Court). The Supreme Court affirmed in part and reversed in part the Court of Appeals judgment and remanded for further proceedings consistent with its opinion.

Court's Reasoning and Analysis

The Court began by noting that five trial witnesses had previously identified Anderson at photographic showings conducted while Anderson was in custody for another offense and that he lacked counsel at those showings. The Court of Appeals had remanded for an evidentiary hearing to determine (1) whether the investigation had focused on Anderson, (2) whether the photo showings were impermissibly suggestive, and (3) if suggestive, whether the identifications had an independent source.

The prosecutor argued that Anderson had no right to counsel at the photo showings because the showings occurred before formal prosecutorial proceedings on the armed robbery charge (citing Kirby v. Illinois) and that the Sixth Amendment does not apply to photo showings (citing United States v. Ash). The Michigan Supreme Court examined those federal authorities in light of state precedent.

The Court relied on its earlier decision in People v [Franklin] Anderson to state that a photo showing should not be used when a corporeal lineup could be held, and where a photo showing is used because a corporeal lineup cannot be held, the fact of custody still requires the protections announced in that case. The Court rejected the prosecutor's contention that Franklin Anderson should not apply because Anderson's custody was for a different crime in a different place; the Court held explicitly that it is the fact of custody that triggers application of the Franklin Anderson rule, not the place or reason for custody.

The Court also cited People v Jackson, noting that the state court there had considered Kirby and Ash and had held—independent of any federal constitutional right—that Michigan provides a right to counsel at such showings except in exigent circumstances necessitating an immediate showing before the accused can be informed of the right to counsel and afforded the opportunity to obtain counsel. On the basis of Franklin Anderson and Jackson, the Court remanded the case to the trial court for an evidentiary hearing to resolve the questions identified by the Court of Appeals (focus of investigation, suggestiveness of showings, and independent source for identifications).

Separately, the Court addressed the sentencing issue. It found that the trial judge erred by taking into account at sentencing his personal impression that Anderson had protected a codefendant. The Court held that Anderson could not properly be punished for exercising his Fifth Amendment right to remain silent at trial, and it equated the trial judge's consideration with the error condemned in Scott v. United States. Consequently, the Court directed that if Anderson does not obtain a new trial following the remand hearing, he should be resentenced before another judge. The Court noted, by reference to People v McFarlin, that other aspects of sentencing (such as consideration of a juvenile record) have been addressed by the Court but did not alter the remedial direction given here.

Holding and Implications

Core Ruling: The judgment of the Court of Appeals is affirmed in part and reversed in part; the case is REMANDED FOR AN EVIDENTIARY HEARING and, if no new trial is granted following that hearing, the defendant is to be RESENTENCED BEFORE ANOTHER JUDGE.

Implications:

  • Direct effect on the parties: The case is remanded to the trial court to hold an evidentiary hearing to determine whether the photographic showings were impermissibly suggestive, whether the investigation focused on Anderson, and whether any identifications had an independent source. If the hearing does not result in a new trial, Anderson must be resentenced before a different judge because the trial judge improperly considered a belief that Anderson had protected a codefendant.
  • The Court reaffirmed that, under Michigan precedent (People v [Franklin] Anderson and People v Jackson), the fact of custody requires implementation of protections regarding photo showings, and that Michigan recognizes a right to counsel at such showings except in exigent circumstances. The opinion applies those state-law principles to the facts of this case.
  • The opinion does not state that it establishes a new federal constitutional rule; it relies on and distinguishes federal authorities (Kirby, Ash) while construing and applying state-law protections.

Additional Notes

The opinion contains a dissent by Justice M.S. Coleman (joined by Justice J.W. Fitzgerald), which argued that the case was in an investigative stage, that Kirby and Ash should control, that the majority's rule is impractical and harmful to law enforcement efficiency, and that the Court's ruling should be applied prospectively. The majority did not adopt that view.

PEOPLE v. ANDERSON

T.G. KAVANAGH, J.

The defendant, James Lee Anderson, was convicted of armed robbery. MCLA 750.529; MSA 28.797. Five of the witnesses who identified him at the trial had previously identified him at photo showings. The showings were held while Anderson was in custody in connection with another offense and, it would appear, under suspicion of having committed this offense. He was not represented by counsel at the showings.

The Court of Appeals remanded for an evidentiary hearing to determine whether the investigation had focused on Anderson and whether the showings were impermissibly suggestive and, if so, whether the identifications had an independent source. The Court of Appeals also required, in the event such remand hearing did not result in a new trial, that Anderson be resentenced before another judge because the trial judge had indicated he had taken into consideration at sentencing his belief that Anderson had protected a codefendant resulting in the codefendant's acquittal.

The prosecutor appeals on leave granted claiming that Anderson did not have a right to counsel at the photo showings because they took place before a formal complaint had been filed and an arrest warrant issued on the armed robbery charge, citing the decision of the United States Supreme Court in Kirby v Illinois, 406 U.S. 682; 92 S Ct 1877; 32 L Ed 2d 411 (1972).

The prosecutor also contends, relying on the still more recent decision in United States v Ash, 413 U.S. 300; 93 S Ct 2568; 37 L Ed 2d 619 (1973), that the Sixth Amendment right to counsel does not apply to photo showings.

In People v [Franklin] Anderson, 389 Mich. 155; 205 N.W.2d 461 (1973), this Court held that there should be no photo showing if a corporeal lineup could be held. We said that a photo showing of a person in custody in the situation where a corporeal lineup could not be held for the reasons suggested on pp 186-187, did not diminish the right to counsel at such photo showing. The people argue in the instant case that the rule of Franklin Anderson should not apply, because the defendant was in custody for a different crime in a different place. We are not persuaded. It is the fact of custody that requires implementation of the Franklin Anderson rule, not the place of or reason for the custody.

In People v Jackson, 391 Mich. 323; 217 N.W.2d 22 (1974), this Court considered the Kirby and Ash decisions of the United States Supreme Court and held, independent of any Federal constitutional right to counsel, that there is such a right to counsel except in exigent circumstances where there is need to conduct the showing before the accused can be informed of his right to counsel and has an opportunity to obtain counsel.

For the reasons set forth in People v [Franklin] Anderson, supra, pp 168-169, 186-187, and People v Jackson, supra, this case is remanded to the trial court for an evidentiary hearing.

If James Lee Anderson does not obtain a new trial following the hearing on remand he should be resentenced before another judge as the trial judge did err in taking into consideration at the time of sentencing his personal impression that Anderson was protecting a codefendant. Anderson could not properly be punished for exercising his right to remain silent at the trial guaranteed by the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution. We regard the judge's consideration of his belief that Anderson was shielding a codefendant as the equivalent of the error found in Scott v United States, 135 US App DC 377; 419 F.2d 264 (1969), wherein the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit rejected the argument that a judge may impose additional punishment because he believes the defendant committed perjury, saying that if the government wishes to prosecute for the independent substantive offense of perjury it may do so and that in such a proceeding the defendant would be entitled to all the protections of a criminal trial. Similarly, see People v White, 130 Ill. App.2d 775; 267 N.E.2d 129 (1971).

Since the decision herein by the Court of Appeals, we have held that a sentencing judge may consider the juvenile record of a defendant at the time of sentencing. See People v McFarlin, 389 Mich. 557; 208 N.W.2d 504 (1973).

Remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

T.M. KAVANAGH, C.J., and SWAINSON and WILLIAMS, JJ., concurred with T.G. KAVANAGH, J.

M.S. COLEMAN, J. (dissenting).

While in jail for an armed robbery in Southfield, defendant became a suspect in the instant case which concerns an armed robbery in Detroit. The case was in a purely investigative stage. No judicial proceedings had begun.

On February 12, 1970, the witnesses to the Detroit robbery were shown 50 photographs. They did not identify any and it is not known whether or not defendant's photo was among them. The next day, 17 more photographs were shown to the witnesses. Five identified the defendant. One eyewitness not present at the photo showing identified defendant independently at trial. Defendant also admitted guilt at his sentencing hearing, so there is no doubt of his guilt, only of the process.

The Court has remanded this case for an evidentiary hearing. As authority, People v [Franklin] Anderson, 389 Mich. 155; 205 N.W.2d 461 (1973) and People v Jackson, 391 Mich. 323; 217 N.W.2d 22 (1974) are cited. In my dissent to the Jackson decision, I noted that the "United States Supreme Court has afforded strong and recent precedent which we ignore." We have again done so.

The precedent to which I referred is Kirby v Illinois 406 U.S. 682; 92 S Ct 1877; 32 L Ed 2d 411 (1972) and United States v Ash, 413 U.S. 300; 93 S Ct 2568; 37 L Ed 2d 619 (1973). In Kirby, the Court said the presence of counsel is not required at events prior to the beginning of adversary criminal proceedings. In Ash, the Court said the presence of counsel is not required when photographic displays are used for identification purposes.

As did Jackson, the instant case falls within the Kirby and Ash rules. It remains my belief that "adoption of those rules would promote efficient criminal investigation while preserving the rights of all citizens". As in Jackson, I do not believe the Court's decision as effectively serves those ends.

As a matter of policy, the majority opinion is untenable in its general application. The effect of the finding is to mandate that before the judicial process begins and while a crime is under investigation, the whereabouts of each possible suspect must be ascertained prior to a photo showing in which his or her picture is used. If any are incarcerated anywhere for any other offense, knowledge of such would appear to be conclusively presumed. An incarcerated suspect would have to be returned to the jurisdiction and site of the crime and an attorney made available for any photo showing in which his (or her) picture might appear.

As in many cases, such a showing may contain photos of several incarcerated suspects. The opinion would appear to require attorneys for all. The criteria for the necessity of an attorney are too unrealistic in my opinion. The police often — perhaps most frequently — focus upon a series or a group of suspects until adequate proofs are gathered to support an information. In order to be on firm ground, under the recent case law of this Court, they would have to make counsel available to each possible suspect in any jail for any other offense.

I do not see any constitutional rights abridged in this case. I do see a policy which, if possible to comply with at all in many cases, at best is impractical and which further impedes the investigative process by inserting new requirements at who knows what additional cost in time and money. All this for doubtful, if any, benefit to the not-yet-accused person.

As the will of the majority prevails, it is recommended that the Court's opinion be prospective in its application.

J.W. FITZGERALD, J., concurred with M.S. COLEMAN, J.

LEVIN, J., did not sit in this case.

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PEOPLE v. ANDERSON
(Apr 16, 1974)