PEOPLE v GEARNS; PEOPLE v THOMAS
Docket Nos. 101026, 107834
Supreme Court of Michigan
Decided May 5, 1998
457 MICH 170
Argued November 5, 1997 (Calendar Nos. 8-9).
Donnell L. Thomas was convicted by a jury in the Saginaw Circuit Court, Lynda L. Heathscott, J., of involuntary manslaughter, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and carrying a concealed weapon. The Court of Appeals, WHITE, P.J., and D. E. HOLBROOK, JR., and P. D. SCHAEFER, JJ., reversed in an unpublished opinion per curiam (Docket No. 171264). The people appeal.
In each case, the defendant contends that his right to confront a witness was denied when the trial court permitted a prosecution witness to assert the Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination in the presence of the jury; that the calling of the witness, knowing that he would assert his Fifth Amendment rights, amounted to prosecutorial misconduct, denying the defendant a fair trial or due process; and that these errors contributed to the guilty verdict.
In separate opinions, the Supreme Court held:
No constitutional error occurred in either case. While evidentiary error did occur, it was harmless because it is highly probable that, in the light of the strength and weight of the untainted evidence, the tainted evidence did not contribute to the verdicts.
1. A defendant has no right to confront a witness who does not provide any evidence at trial. Where a witness does not testify about matters beyond preliminary information, there is nothing for the defendant to cross-examine. A mere inference is insufficient. Thus, before a defendant can be denied effective cross-examination, some substantive testimony or its equivalent must come to pass. In these cases no substantive testimony was placed before the jury.
3. While evidentiary error occurred in each case, the people proved that it was highly probable that, in the light of the strength and weight of the untainted evidence, the tainted evidence did not contribute to the verdicts. Circumstantial evidence primarily comprised the case against each defendant. In Gearns, not only was the circumstantial evidence strong, the physical evidence connecting the defendant to the crime was substantial. In Thomas, strong evidence was presented, placing the defendant at the scene of the crime and establishing him as the shooter. In both cases, the error was harmless in the light of the strength and weight of the untainted evidence. Neither defendant was unfairly prejudiced.
Justice CAVANAGH, joined by Justice KELLY, concurring in part and dissenting in part, further stated that when the weight of the inferences erroneously placed before the jury is fully considered, it is highly probable that the tainted evidence contributed to the verdicts and that reversal is required.
Justice WEAVER, joined by Justice TAYLOR, concurring in part and dissenting in part, further stated that it was not error in these cases for the prosecutor to call witnesses intimately connected to the crimes at issue, knowing that the witnesses would make an invalid assertion of their Fifth Amendment rights. Error occurs only when the privilege asserted has been ruled to be valid by the trial court. If a prosecutor learns that a witness plans to claim a privilege, the proper procedure would seem to be to ask the court to conduct a hearing outside the presence of the jury, and rule on the validity of the privilege. If it is valid, the prosecutor could not call the witness unless nonprivileged information could be and was elicited, thereby giving purpose to the witness’ appearance other than creation of the unwanted inference that the witness’ testimony would undercut the defendant‘s claim of innocence. If the privilege is found invalid by the trial court, the prosecution has every right to put the witness on the stand, expecting the witness to comply with the obliga-
The majority disregards the fact that the evidentiary error in question is grounded in professional misconduct, relying on the prejudice to the defendant. This, however, confuses whether the error was harmless with whether error existed. In these cases, it is clear that neither witness was asserting a valid privilege. Thus, in neither case was there evidentiary error.
The proper standard for preserved, nonconstitutional error is set forth in
Justice BOYLE, dissenting, stated that because error, if any, is harmless under any standard, the majority has used this case as a vehicle to adopt the high-probability standard, rendering meaningful exploration of the question a futility.
The lead opinion takes precedent that rests on the dual concerns that a prosecutor should not force a witness to claim a valid privilege and that a jury may draw inferences that are impermissible from such exercise and converts it into a rule that the prosecutor may not call a witness who has no privilege to refuse to testify because the jury might hold it against the defendant. Concern that the witness’ refusal to testify might play a role in the jury‘s deliberations harmful to the defendant is speculative, not evidentiary.
A jury is entitled to know that a witness has been produced and will not testify, rather than be told that it is not to speculate on the reasons why the witness is not present. A rule depriving the jury of knowledge in determining a defendant‘s guilt or innocence requires a compelling justification. Because there was no right to refuse to testify in these circumstances, no ethical violation by the prosecutor, and no legally cognizable prejudice to the defendant from the witness’ recalcitrance, no compelling justification was present.
Gearns, affirmed.
Thomas, reversed.
Frank J. Kelley, Attorney General, Thomas L. Casey, Solicitor General, John D. O‘Hair, Prosecuting Attorney, Timothy A. Baughman, Chief, Research, Training and Appeals, and Thomas M.
Frank J. Kelley, Attorney General, Thomas L. Casey, Solicitor General, Michael D. Thomas, Prosecuting Attorney, and Catherine Langevin Semel, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for the people in Thomas.
Mark J. Kriger for defendant Gearns.
State Appellate Defender (by Gail Rodwan) for defendant Thomas.
BRICKLEY, J.
I
In these cases, we are called upon to determine three issues. First, whether any constitutional error occurred when the people called a witness to the stand knowing that the witness would assert the privilege against self-incrimination in front of the jury. Second, if this was not constitutional error, was it evidentiary error? Finally, if this was evidentiary error, we must decide the proper level of assurance a reviewing court must have for preserved nonconstitutional error. We conclude that no constitutional error occurred in either case and that, while evidentiary error did occur, it was harmless because it is highly probable that the evidence did not contribute to the verdicts in light of the strength and weight of the untainted evidence.
A. PEOPLE v GEARNS
Defendant Jeffrey Gearns was tried before a jury and convicted of second-degree murder,
On April 3, 1991, the defendant met the deceased, Douglas Lineberry, in the bar of a Chi-Chi‘s restaurant in Dearborn. They conversed, and defendant became heavily intoxicated. The defendant, a regular at that bar, left with Mr. Lineberry. Later that evening, defendant called Gary Edwards, a friend of his, in Florida. Mr. Edwards testified that defendant sounded intoxicated and wanted him to play the flute over the speaker phone. Mr. Edwards testified that he heard another person in the background, who was laughing and “partying” and whom defendant stated he met at the bar. The next day, Mr. Edwards received another call from defendant asking him to recommend a good criminal attorney. When Mr. Edwards inquired regarding why, the defendant indicated that someone was shot and there was some kind of fatality. When Mr. Edwards called him back with the name of an attorney, defendant stated, “I guess I will see you in ten years.”
The victim‘s wife reported him missing, and a Chi-Chi‘s manager noticed a car in the parking lot for several days, which belonged to the victim. The victim‘s body was discovered in a wooded area near Brighton with a single gunshot wound to the forehead. It was a 9 mm shell, shot from about four inches. The medical
A police sergeant called the number in the matchbook and left a message on an answering machine. When the defendant called back, the sergeant asked him if he knew Mr. Lineberry, to which defendant responded that he had not heard of him. The sergeant requested that the defendant come in for an interview; however, he did not.
On April 12, the police executed a search warrant at defendant‘s home in Dearborn Heights. Defendant and his brother, Gregory Gearns, were present, and one officer testified that defendant was on his hands and knees scrubbing the kitchen floor when he entered the home. One of the evidence technicians sprayed luminol on various areas of the home. She testified that it would glow in the dark when exposed to certain substances, including blood and a chlorine substance present in some household cleaners and certain metals. The test produced a glow on a puddle near defendant‘s car in the garage and the pattern of a set of footprints in the corner of the basement. There also was a trace of denim material found in the trunk of the defendant‘s car, but a positive match could not be obtained with the blue jeans worn by the victim.
The officers found 9 mm ammunition, the same caliber as the bullet that killed the deceased. Defendant was the registered owner of a 9 mm Smith & Wesson pistol, which was not found in the search. Some type O blood was found in the trunk, consistent with defendant‘s blood type, and type A blood was found in the trunk, but no type B blood (the victim‘s blood type) was found. Defendant‘s father testified that defendant and Gregory Gearns lived together at the Dearborn Heights address.
After the jury was sworn, the prosecutor asked for a ruling from the court outside the jury‘s presence. The prosecutor wanted to call Gregory Gearns as its first witness. Gregory Gearns’ attorney indicated that he would assert the Fifth Amendment and refuse to answer questions. The prosecutor had offered Gregory Gearns immunity from prosecution for a charge of accessory after the fact to murder, which the prosecution argued was sufficient to cover any information that the prosecutor knew or was likely to ever know concerning Gregory Gearns’ involvement. The judge indicated that she would hold Gregory Gearns in contempt if he refused to testify. His attorney indicated that he could not be held in contempt unless he actually refused to testify, and counsel for Gregory Gearns requested that the refusal take place outside the jury‘s presence. The prosecutor indicated his acquiescence, but the judge expressed her opinion that the refusal had to occur in front of the jury; otherwise, Gregory Gearns would not be in contempt of court.
B. PEOPLE v THOMAS
Defendant Donnell Thomas was tried by a jury and convicted of voluntary manslaughter,
Thomas and five other friends, Curtis Madison, Tarkeus Gee, Robert Jamerson, Demarcus Wesby, and
A 9 mm bullet was recovered from Mr. Madison, the victim. Its entry indicated it did not come from the road where the truck occupants fired shots. The expert‘s laser trajectory indicated defendant was in a position consistent with the line of fire, although it could also have come from a building. The 9 mm pistol was not recovered. Mr. King indicated that defendant was firing at the blue truck in their direction. Defendant offered a statement indicating that Mr. Wesby also fired shots. There was additional testimony that shots might have been fired from a nearby building. Thomas’ theory was that the prosecutor failed to prove that he was the killer beyond a reasonable doubt and that, even if the jury believed he fired the shot, it was not murder.
The prosecutor and the police went to interview Mr. Gee in jail before trial, and Mr. Gee indicated that he had no intention of testifying. Mr. Gee also said there was nothing anyone could do to make him testify. The prosecutor requested that the court compel him to take the stand. The court asked Mr. Gee why he was refusing—if he was going to assert the Fifth Amendment privilege. The prosecutor agreed to grant immunity. The prosecutor and the court agreed that if Mr. Gee still refused to testify, the prosecutor would have the right to call him. The defense maintained
Mr. Gee took the stand and stated that he did not want to testify, but did not give a reason. The trial court asked if he was refusing to testify because of the Fifth Amendment. Mr. Gee responded, “Yeah, I‘m refusing on the Fifth Amendment. Is it more simple that way?” The trial court ruled that Mr. Gee had no Fifth Amendment privilege. Defendant‘s attorney objected that Mr. Gee had not been properly informed of the scope of his Fifth Amendment rights. The trial court then informed him that “the only person who has a legal right not to testify and to invoke the Fifth Amendment is an individual who believes that he or she may implicate themselves, maybe testify against their own penal interests.” Mr. Gee indicated that he just did not want to testify, and the prosecutor‘s threats to add to his charges and give him a longer sentence did not bother him. He also stated that he had done nothing wrong and, thus, could not implicate himself.
Defense counsel argued that it was not permissible to place Mr. Gee on the stand in front of the jury to elicit a refusal to testify, even if the privilege asserted was invalid. The court permitted it over objection, stating that the witness’ refusal would be placed on the record before the jury. Mr. Gee would not even testify with regard to his name, stating, “I‘m making sure—I want—I‘m refusing to say anything until I get a legal representative.” He was subsequently held in contempt. Following his statement on the stand, Mr. Gee was provided with counsel, who concluded that Mr. Gee had no legal right not to testify.
The first issue we are called upon to decide is whether either defendant‘s right to confront a witness against him was implicated by permitting a witness to assert his Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination in the presence of the jury. While our decision in People v Giacalone, 399 Mich 642, 646; 250 NW2d 492 (1977), was based on evidentiary error, we recognized that a number of other decisions were based on the Confrontation Clause. We declined to reach the constitutional issue in that case, but find it necessary and prudent to do so today. We conclude that neither defendant was denied the right of confrontation or the right to a fair trial in violation of due process.
We first address the alleged violations of the Confrontation Clause. Three United States Supreme Court decisions form the backdrop against which we determine this issue. The first is Namet v United States, 373 US 179, 185; 83 S Ct 1151; 10 L Ed 2d 278 (1963), in which the Supreme Court held that the petitioner‘s claim was evidentiary trial error, specifically noting that no constitutional issue was being decided. While we are not bound by this Supreme Court decision, it proves instructive in determining at what point this type of error becomes constitutional in magnitude.
In Namet, two coconspirators testified against the defendant and invoked the Fifth Amendment during portions of their testimony. The Supreme Court examined several lower court decisions regarding this type of error, in which those courts reviewed surrounding circumstances of each case, focusing primarily on two factors, each of which suggested a “dis-
Both witnesses possessed nonprivileged information that could be used to corroborate the government‘s case, which the government had the right to put before the jury. Id. at 188. The few invocations of the privilege were not significant enough to be error in the absence of prosecutorial misconduct and were merely cumulative support for inferences already established by the nonprivileged portion of the witness’ testimony. Id. at 189. This case is factually different from the two cases we are examining here today and only serves to illustrate when no constitutional error exists.
The second decision, Douglas v Alabama, 380 US 415; 85 S Ct 1074; 13 L Ed 2d 934 (1965), is not inconsistent with Namet, but does rest on constitutional grounds. Douglas illustrates when the first ground for error discussed in Namet, critical weight, becomes constitutional in nature. In Douglas, the trial judge ruled that the witness could not rely on the privilege against self-incrimination to support his refusal to testify because he had been convicted.2 He was ordered
to answer, but persisted in his refusal. The prosecutor produced a document purported to be the witness’ confession and read from the document, asking the witness every few lines whether he had made that statement, until the entire document was read to the jury. Id. at 416-417.
The Supreme Court held that, in the circumstances of that case, the petitioner‘s inability to cross-examine the witness about the alleged confession denied him the right of cross-examination secured by the Confrontation Clause. The statements read by the prosecutor formed a “crucial link” in the proof against petitioner and were the “equivalent ... of testimony” that the witness made the statements. Id. at 419. Effective confrontation of the witness was possible only if the witness affirmed the purported confession as his. He did not and, instead, relied on his priv-
A third Supreme Court decision, Frazier v Cupp, 394 US 731; 89 S Ct 1420; 22 L Ed 2d 684 (1969), further explores the ground of error articulated in Namet that was utilized in the Confrontation Clause analysis of Douglas. The petitioner argued that the made that the witness’ refusal to answer was procured by the defendant. Id. at 420. Thus, the validity of the privilege is not a prerequisite to the finding of a Confrontation Clause violation.
prosecutor made remarks in his opening statement that prejudiced him. The petitioner had been indicted jointly with his cousin, who pleaded guilty of the same offense. The petitioner‘s defense counsel told the prosecutor that the cousin would invoke his Fifth Amendment privilege if called to the stand and warned the prosecutor not to rely on his testimony in his opening statement. The prosecutor independently investigated the matter and believed, on the basis of questioning the cousin‘s probation officer, a police officer who had spoken with the cousin, and some relatives that the cousin indeed would testify. Id. at 733.
Because of that investigation, the prosecutor included a summary of the cousin‘s expected testimony in his opening statement. When called to the stand, the cousin indicated that he would assert his privilege against self-incrimination regarding any question related to activities in question. The matter was not further pursued and he was dismissed from the stand. Id. at 734. The petitioner argued that the substance of his cousin‘s statement was placed before the jury as the equivalent of testimony not subject to cross-examination and added substantial weight to the prosecution‘s case. Id. at 734.
The Supreme Court considered whether the petitioner was denied his confrontation rights as guaranteed by the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments.3 Although the “question ... posed [was] not an easy one,” the Supreme Court disagreed with the peti-
The instant cases are unlike Douglas, where a purported confession of a codefendant was placed before the jury through the prosecutor‘s questions, to each of which the witness asserted the Fifth Amendment privilege.5 No statements or other evidence was presented to the jury that was the “equivalent ... of testimony.” In Namet, the witnesses offered much other substantive testimony apart from their assertions of the Fifth Amendment to a few questions. The defendant was able to cross-examine the witnesses about the substance of the testimony that was actually put before the jury. Here, there was no substance on which the defendants could cross-examine the witnesses.
In Frazier, substantive proposed testimony was put before the jury in the prosecutor‘s opening statement.
The present cases are most like Frazier. In fact, they are far less close to constitutional error than the facts in Frazier. No substantive testimony was placed before the jury. In particular, we note the absence of any claim in Frazier that merely placing the witness on the stand and having the witness assert Fifth Amendment rights was, by itself, constitutional error. The Supreme Court found no constitutional error in circumstances similar to the present circumstances, even with the additional aggravating factor of putting proposed substantive testimony before the jury in an opening statement.
We would hold that in both Gearns and Thomas no Confrontation Clause violation occurred. A defendant has the constitutional right to confront witnesses against him, primarily secured by the right to cross-examination. See Douglas, supra at 418. In the instant cases, there was no testimony given by the witnesses on which the defendants could have cross-examined them. In Gearns, the witness was asked one question, to which he responded by asserting his Fifth Amendment privilege. That he lived with his brother was subsequently established by the prosecution, and, thus, this only supported a fact already established by other testimony. See Namet, supra. The prosecution subsequently asked Gregory Gearns if he had been
Our position is supported by the general Confrontation Clause jurisprudence of the United States Supreme Court. First, the principal protection provided by the Confrontation Clause to a criminal defendant is the right to conduct cross-examination. Pennsylvania v Ritchie, 480 US 39, 51; 107 S Ct 989; 94 L Ed 2d 40 (1987); Delaware v Fensterer, 474 US 15, 18-19; 106 S Ct 292; 88 L Ed 2d 15 (1985). Moreover, the Confrontation Clause only guarantees “an opportunity for effective cross-examination, not cross-examination that is effective in whatever way, and to whatever extent, the defense might wish.” Fensterer, supra at 20; Ritchie, supra at 53; People v Bushard, 444 Mich 384, 391; 508 NW2d 745 (1993) (emphasis in original). Finally,
[t]he Confrontation Clause includes no guarantee that every witness called by the prosecution will refrain from giving testimony that is marred by forgetfulness, confusion, or evasion. To the contrary, the Confrontation Clause is generally satisfied when the defense is given a full and fair opportunity to probe and expose these infirmities through cross-examination, thereby calling to the attention of the factfinder the reasons for giving scant weight to the witness’ testimony. [Fensterer, supra at 21-22; United States v Owens, 484 US 554, 558; 108 S Ct 838; 98 L Ed 2d 951 (1988) (emphasis added).]
Implicit in the Supreme Court‘s Confrontation Clause jurisprudence is that a witness must put forth
The core of the Douglas decision was that the “equivalent ... of testimony” was placed before the jury. While the “critical weight” theory is articulated in terms of “inferences,” we must emphasize that it also requires these inferences to be a form “not subject to cross-examination.” A defendant is only guaranteed an opportunity for cross-examination; however, there must first be something of substance to cross-examine. We agree with the Colorado Supreme Court that, where a witness does not testify about matters beyond preliminary information, i.e., matters that have no bearing on the outcome of the case, there is nothing for the defendant to cross-examine, and the policies underlying this constitutional right do not come into play. Scheidt, supra at 384. Thus, before a defendant can be denied effective cross-examination, some substantive testimony or its equivalent must come to pass in order for the right to confrontation to arise.
We now turn to the second possible ground for constitutional error articulated in Namet,7 which implicates due process. The second theory is based on a concept of prosecutorial misconduct, where the
The Supreme Court has not definitively addressed whether prosecutorial misconduct can violate a defendant‘s constitutional rights in this context. However, the “touchstone of due process analysis in cases of alleged prosecutorial misconduct is the fairness of the trial, not the culpability of the prosecutor.” Smith v Phillips, 455 US 209, 219; 102 S Ct 940; 71 L Ed 2d 78 (1982). This Court has also repeatedly articulated the principle that, in reviewing claims of prosecutorial misconduct, it must be determined whether the conduct rose to such a level as to deny
The Supreme Court declined to address this issue in Frazier,9 but did not rule out that prosecutorial misconduct in this context can result in a constitutional violation. The prosecutorial misconduct in this situation, thus, should be analyzed just as any claim of alleged prosecutorial misconduct. Utilizing the Supreme Court‘s due process analysis for prosecutorial misconduct, the issue then becomes whether the conduct rose to such a level as to deny the defendant a fair trial in violation of due process. The Supreme Court held that the proper inquiry is not the fact of the prosecutor‘s misconduct, but, rather, its effect on the trial. Smith, supra at 220. Thus, prosecutorial misconduct alone does not require a new trial. Id.
We also find it helpful to turn to cases from our sister states, which have grappled with the issue of prosecutorial misconduct in this context. The Arizona Supreme Court decided whether a defendant was denied the right to due process and a fair trial in
However, in Corrales, the prosecutor continued questioning the witness and asked leading questions that connected the defendant to the witness in the commission of the crime. Id. at 590. Moreover,
[t]he fact that it was permissible to call [the witness] to ascertain whether he would take the fifth amendment did not make it permissible to continue asking him questions after it had become apparent that he would take that privilege. The law is quite to the contrary. Prosecutorial insistence in asking prejudicial questions depicting a defendant‘s involvement in the crime after it becomes clear that the witness-alleged accomplice has refused and will continue to refuse to testify is an attempt to build the prosecutor‘s case out of inferences arising from use of the testimonial privilege and is misconduct. [Id. at 591 (citations omitted).]
In deciding that no prosecutorial misconduct occurred, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court found that because the prosecutor only questioned the witness11 once, included no “facts” in the form of leading questions, and made no comment about the witness’ recalcitrance in his closing argument, there was no showing that the prosecution consciously sought to build its case out of inferences arising from the witness’ silence. Commonwealth v Kane, 388 Mass 128, 138; 445 NE2d 598 (1983). The present cases fall within the requirements of Kane. While in Gearns, the prosecution‘s mention of the grant of immunity was probably not the most prudent course of action, it still does not rise to the level of building its entire case from inferences arising from the refusal to testify.
The Delaware Supreme Court found neither a due process nor a Confrontation Clause violation where the witness waived his Fifth Amendment right, the state was entitled to call the witness because his pre-
In the instant cases, the only factor arguably satisfied is that it was well established that the witnesses would refuse to testify. However, this is simply not enough to constitute a due process violation, denying either defendant a fair trial. This is so in light of the Supreme Court‘s admonition that prosecutorial misconduct alone is insufficient for the grant of a new trial (see Smith, supra) and that merely calling a witness to the stand, even knowing that he will assert Fifth Amendment rights, does not rise to the level of constitutional violation. See Corrales, supra.
This analysis is supported by the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which made an important distinction between cases finding prejudicial error and those that did not by holding that the controlling factor was not that prosecution called the witness to the stand, but rather that it put questions to the witness, which if not answered, would lead to the inference that the answers, if given, would be unfavorable to the defendant. Price v State, 37 Wis 2d 117, 125; 154 NW2d 222 (1967).12 Thus, calling a witness to the stand, even if the prosecutor knows that the witness will assert Fifth Amendment rights, does not, by
IV
Because we have concluded that no constitutional error occurred in these cases, we must now determine whether evidentiary error occurred. We conclude that in both cases evidentiary error did occur. This Court‘s decision in Giacalone, supra, forms the foundation of this evidentiary error analysis. In Giacalone, the defendant and two others were charged with armed robbery. One, Jolly, was tried separately and convicted. Jolly‘s attorney advised the judge and other counsel that Jolly would assert his Fifth Amendment privilege and refuse to testify. The prosecution called him to the stand and asked two questions, to which he responded by asserting his Fifth Amendment privilege. Id. at 644. This Court held on the basis of an ethical rule of conduct13 that an attorney may not call a witness knowing that he will claim a valid privilege not to testify. We recognized that when an
“alleged accomplice invokes the privilege in the presence of the jury, prejudice arises from the human tendency to treat the claim of privilege as a confession of crime, creating an adverse inference which an accused is powerless to combat by cross-examination.” [Id. at 645, quoting State v Allen, 224 NW2d 237, 241 (Iowa, 1974).]
The prosecution in Thomas takes issue with the Court of Appeals holding that “inherent prejudice” results when an individual who is connected to the criminal episode or to the defendant invokes his Fifth Amendment privilege in front of the jury. The prosecution also contends that Court of Appeals decisions have eroded this Court‘s requirement that a valid privilege be asserted. While the prosecution agrees that invalid assertions of privilege may be as prejudicial as valid assertions, it does not follow that the validity of the privilege has no bearing at all. The invalidity creates a real possibility that the witness may have a change of mind; it is relevant to the prosecutor‘s good faith.
Defendant Thomas responds by explaining that Mr. Gee repeatedly refused to testify and neither immunity nor contempt changed his mind. There is no indication that the prosecutor thought Mr. Gee would change his mind and testify, nor was there any evi-
The prosecution in Gearns maintains that it was not certain that Gregory Gearns would assert his Fifth Amendment rights because he had been advised by his attorney that he must testify and because of his attorney‘s assertion that he could not be held in contempt until he was called to the stand and asserted Fifth Amendment rights before the jury.14
The people are correct that Giacalone and Dyer speak in terms of a valid privilege, although this was not directly at issue in either case. The Court of Appeals has expanded on Giacalone, and the prosecutors in these cases urge this Court to reverse that trend. In People v Poma, 96 Mich App 726, 731; 294 NW2d 221 (1980), the Court of Appeals held that the validity of a witness’ privilege has no bearing on the prejudice to the defendant that results when an “intimately connected” witness asserts Fifth Amendment rights on the stand. The Court of Appeals also outlined certain procedures that must be followed:
The court should first hold a hearing outside the jury‘s presence to determine if the intimate witness has a legitimate privilege . . . . This determination should be prefaced by an adequate explanation of the self-incrimination privilege so the witness can make a knowledgeable choice regarding assertion. . . .
If the court concludes that the witness has no legitimate privilege, it should consider contempt penalties or other alternate remedies against the witness. Yet, with respect to
the defendant, the court must proceed to determine if the witness intends to assert that privilege, whether validly or invalidly, at trial. If the intimate witness intends to claim the protection of the Fifth Amendment at trial, there really is no way to prevent prejudice to the defendant absent barring that witness. * * *
We hold that it is inherently prejudicial to place a witness on the stand who is intimately related to the criminal episode at issue, when the judge and prosecutor know that he will assert the Fifth Amendment privilege. When a judge determines at the evidentiary hearing that the intimate witness will either properly or improperly claim the protection against self-incrimination, he must not allow this witness to be called to the stand. [Id. at 732-733 (citations omitted).]
On the basis of our precedent, we must first determine how the witness’ status as an “intimate witness” affects the inquiry. Next, we must determine whether the validity of the privilege is controlling in this analysis. Third, we will discuss the procedures outlined by the Court of Appeals in Poma. Finally, we will address whether any limiting instructions are necessary in these cases.
Dyer and Giacalone stand for the proposition that it is an ethical violation for an attorney to put a witness on the stand knowing that the witness will validly assert the Fifth Amendment. However, where the possible prejudice comes into play is when the witness is an accomplice or codefendant or, as in Dyer, is intimately connected to the crime, although neither as an accomplice nor as a codefendant. Obviously, for there even to be possible prejudice to the defendant, the witness must be substantially related to the criminal episode at issue.
the prosecution, once informed that a witness intends to claim a privilege against self-incrimination, commits error in calling that witness to the stand before the jury where the witness is a person (co-defendant, accomplice, associate, etc.) likely to be thought by the jury to be associated with the defendant in the incident or transaction out of which the criminal charges arose. [Commonwealth v DuVal, 453 Pa 205, 217; 307 A2d 229 (1973).]
The people in both cases argue that the witnesses were not accomplices. However, the witness in Dyer was neither an accomplice nor a codefendant, but was simply present at the scene of the crime. Mr. Gee was also present at the scene of the crime in circumstances similar to those presented in Dyer. Gregory Gearns was obviously intimately involved in the criminal episode because he had been granted immunity as an accessory after the fact. Without this critical element, the possible prejudice to the defendant does not exist.
Next, we agree that the validity of the privilege is not necessarily controlling in this evidentiary error analysis. While this issue first became jurisprudentially significant in the context of valid assertions of testimonial privileges, the validity of the privilege does not address the central issue at hand. If the concern is the possible prejudice to the defendant, then why focus on the validity of the witness’ constitutional rights? While the key difference between the constitutional error analyses above and the evidentiary error analysis is the good faith or knowledge of
Giacalone did emphasize both the validity of the privilege and that an accomplice was invoking it. However, we also noted that evidence is traditionally excluded where effective cross-examination is difficult to obtain, such as hearsay. Id. at 646, n 6. Under this basis for our holding, the validity of the privilege does not appear controlling. Moreover, the validity or invalidity of the privilege does not focus on the real issues: Does the prosecutor know that the witness will refuse to testify and will the defendant suffer possible prejudice? Merely because the privilege may be invalid does not negate the prosecutor‘s knowledge or satisfy his ethical responsibility under Giacalone. Moreover, the invalidity of the privilege does not rebut the possibility of prejudice to a defendant.
Other jurisdictions have decided this issue and the courts are split. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court expressed its disagreement with courts holding that the privilege must be valid:
We disagree with those jurisdictions in which it is held that the prosecution may with impunity call before the jury
a witness likely to be associated with the defendant in the minds of the jurors, knowing that a privilege against self-incrimination will be claimed and yet believing that the claim of privilege will be legally invalid. [DuVal, supra at 216.]
The court noted that it was probably even more prejudicial to a defendant to observe a recalcitrant witness electing to remain silent, notwithstanding a court order to testify. Id. at 217. Requiring the privilege to be valid may seem like a simple bright-line rule; however, it does not address that the source of the error lies in the prosecutor knowingly putting a witness on the stand who is going to assert a privilege, not in whether a witness is properly exercising a testimonial privilege.
The dissent asserts that if the trial court finds the witness’ privilege invalid, the prosecution has every right to put the witness on the stand, expecting the witness to comply with the obligation to testify. Thus, contrary to our conclusion, the dissent would hold that the ruling of the trial court does indeed negate the prosecutor‘s knowledge.17 We fail to see how a
In Gearns, the witness’ attorney repeatedly advised the trial court that he believed Gregory Gearns had a valid privilege and that the scope of the immunity
Additionally, compliance with the procedures outlined in Poma is really quite simple—the intimate witness must be given an opportunity to testify or assert his privilege outside the jury‘s presence. The prosecution then has the information it needs to decide whether to request an instruction regarding the absence of the witness, Dyer, supra, and the defendant is not prejudiced by any possible adverse infer-
Moreover, other courts have utilized procedures similar to those outlined in Poma. The DuVal court also noted what a “simple” procedure it was for the prosecutor to inform the court that a witness he intends to call will assert Fifth Amendment rights and obtain a ruling on the matter. DuVal, supra at 216; see also Allen, supra at 224 NW2d 241. Furthermore, the matter should be treated without the presence of the jury, and, if the court determines that the privilege is not valid, it should be determined outside the jury‘s presence whether the witness will continue to refuse to testify. If the witness does refuse, contempt of court and removal should also take place outside the jury‘s presence. DuVal, supra at 217.
Thus, the judge must hold a hearing outside the jury‘s presence to determine if the witness’ privilege is valid, explaining the privilege to the witness. If the court concludes the privilege is not valid, it must determine whether the witness intends to proceed with asserting an invalid privilege. If the witness does so intend, then the witness may not be called. We agree that compliance with these procedures is simple indeed and protects the defendant while giving the prosecutor an important opportunity to “coax” a reluctant witness to testify.
Finally, we address the necessity of limiting instructions. We noted in Dyer that, where a party does not produce or call a codefendant or a witness to substantiate a claim of innocence or guilt, the jury may draw an adverse inference from the absence of this evidence. A neutralizing instruction explains to the jurors that they may not draw an inference from
It is clear that a limiting instruction should be used to explain the absence of a witness, if necessary. A defendant may also request an instruction that no adverse inference should be drawn from a witness’ assertion of a testimonial privilege, should that occur in front of the jury. However, a defendant, in particular, may not want to request such an instruction, thereby calling attention to the witness’ assertion of the privilege, just as the prosecution may not wish to request an instruction regarding a witness’ absence and, thus, call attention to that fact. Requesting either instruction is in the discretion of the trial attorney and is relevant to trial strategy. In sum, we would reaffirm our holdings in Giacalone and Dyer. It was error for the prosecutors in the cases at bar to call witnesses intimately connected to the crimes at issue, knowing those witnesses would assert their Fifth Amendment rights, validly or invalidly.
V
A
We now turn to the third issue that we must decide. This is the issue we recently left open in People v Mateo, 453 Mich 203; 551 NW2d 891 (1996), that is, what “level of assurance” a reviewing court must have for preserved nonconstitutional error under Kotteakos v United States, 328 US 750; 66 S Ct 1239; 90 L Ed 1557 (1946). We would adopt the highly probable standard as articulated in Mateo. While we find that
The prosecution asserts that, but for the language of
The prosecution also argues that the “level of assurance” discussion in Mateo seems “mistaken“: in the federal system the burden is on the government to demonstrate that nonconstitutional error did not have a substantial and injurious effect or influence on the jury‘s verdict, leading to adoption of either the preponderance of the evidence or the highly probable standards, but in Michigan,
Both defendants advocate the highly probable standard discussed in Mateo. There, we left open the level of confidence the reviewing court must have in the
[s]imply stated, and employed in both federal rule and case law and state statute and court rule, reversal is only required if the error was prejudicial. That inquiry focuses on the nature of the error and assesses its effect in light of the weight and strength of the untainted evidence. [Id. at 215.]
This Court seemingly approved former Chief Justice Traynor‘s position that the highly probable test, which assesses whether it is highly probable that the challenged evidence did not contribute to the verdict, is the most appropriate. Id. at 219. Justice Traynor suggested that the highly probable test strikes the appropriate balance between protecting both the public‘s and defendants’ interests in fair trials. Id. at 220.
We disagree with the prosecution that
B
We must now decide whether the people in these cases have proved that it was highly probable that the errors did not contribute to the verdicts. Defendant
Defendant Gearns also argues that the prosecution did not prove that it is highly probable that the error did not contribute to the verdict because, while the question asked of Gregory Gearns might appear innocuous, the significance of the address was not innocuous in the circumstances of this case. The prosecution was careful to develop the fact that Gregory Gearns lived with defendant from other witnesses and that the address was the last place the deceased was seen or heard alive. The prosecution further made a tremendous effort to establish the residence as the scene of the shooting. It also established Gregory Gearns’ presence during the execution of the search warrant. Furthermore, it exploited the error by asking twice, over defense objection, whether Gregory Gearns had been served with an order of immunity.
Circumstantial evidence primarily comprised the cases against both defendants. However, not only was the circumstantial evidence, as a whole, strong, the physical evidence connecting defendant Gearns to the crime was substantial. We find the error to be harmless in the light of the strength and weight of the untainted evidence. In Thomas, the evidence was also
VI
In both cases before us, we hold that no constitutional error occurred and that, while evidentiary error did occur in both cases, it is highly probable that the errors did not contribute to the verdicts in the light of the strength and weight of the untainted evidence. We, therefore, would affirm the Court of Appeals decision in People v Gearns and would reverse the Court of Appeals decision in People v Thomas.
MALLETT, C.J., concurred with BRICKLEY, J.
CAVANAGH, J. (concurring in part and dissenting in part). While I agree with Justice BRICKLEY‘S finding of evidentiary error in these cases, and the utilization of the “highly probable” test to determine that error‘s harmlessness, I disagree with the application of that test to the facts of these cases. I find that Justice BRICKLEY‘S opinion has not adequately considered the facts in relation to the inferences that were erroneously placed before the jury. I believe that, when the
I
In examining this case, I look first to possible evidentiary error, because such a finding, warranting relief, would preclude the need for constitutional review. People v Giacalone, 399 Mich 642, 645-646, n 6; 250 NW2d 492 (1977). I concur with part IV of Justice BRICKLEY‘S opinion that in both cases evidentiary error occurred for the reasons stated therein.1
I further concur with the utilization of the “highly probable” test, again for the reasons cited by Justice BRICKLEY. It is in the application of this test to the instant facts that I part company.
II
A. GEARNS
Defendant Gearns was convicted of second-degree murder.2 An analysis of the facts offered into evidence indicates that the prosecution‘s case was primarily circumstantial. While there was ample circumstantial evidence tying the defendant to the victim, there was no evidence offered regarding how the victim came to be shot to death. Indeed, it seems that even a coherent prosecution theory of the crime was lacking. The evidence tended to show that the defendant and the victim became acquainted at a bar, that they left the bar together, that the victim died at the defendant‘s house, and that the defendant did not recall the events.3
Defendant shared his house with his brother, Gregory Gearns. Gregory was present in the house when it was searched and may have been participating in efforts to clean it. The prosecution wanted to call Gregory Gearns as a witness, and offered him immunity from prosecution as an accessory after the fact.4 Gregory Gearns, not surprisingly, also had counsel representing him during the proceedings.
When the prosecution attempted to call Gregory Gearns, there was an extended discussion between the trial court and the attorneys, including, primarily, the attorney representing Gregory Gearns. Counsel advised the court that he believed the immunity offered was insufficient to protect his client from having his testimony used against him. Counsel therefore advised the court that the witness intended to assert his Fifth Amendment privilege. Eventually, it became clear that the prosecution would offer no further immunity and that the witness would continue to assert the privilege. The court then found the privilege to be invalid, and ordered the witness to testify or face contempt charges. Significantly, the focus of the court and the prosecution was on the potential charge of accessory after the fact, despite counsel‘s insistence that immunity from such a charge was not sufficient to protect the witness.5
B
In Giacalone, the witness also was asked two questions, and likewise asserted the privilege in response to the second question. After stating his name, the witness in Giacalone, Loren Jolly, refused to answer a question regarding whether he recalled a specific date. The date in question was the date of the offense. We noted:
When Jolly declined to answer whether he recalled “the date of August 15, 1967,” the date of the offense, on the ground that his answer “may tend to incriminate me” the jury may have inferred that the answer if given would have been favorable to the prosecution. The jurors were informed through Kinsman‘s [an accomplice who became a prosecution witness] testimony that Jolly and Giacalone had committed the offense. Jolly was thus connected to Giacalone. An adverse inference from Jolly‘s refusal to answer may have carried over to Giacalone. [Giacalone, 399 Mich 646-647.]
Returning to Gearns, the witness likewise refused to answer a question that by itself might seem as harmless as asking about a particular date, but, when taken in the context of the trial, pointed directly to a material and important fact. The prosecution contends that the question was peripheral and, hence, the inference to be drawn by the jury was minimal at most. I disagree. The question, while purporting to deal with an initial matter, pointed directly to the witness’ importance, that he was the defendant‘s roommate. Likewise, the prosecution‘s (correct) assertion that this fact was already before the jury does not compel a finding of harmlessness. Certainly, in Gia-calone, the accomplice had already testified regarding the date of the crime, as had, most likely, the victim and the police. Giacalone teaches that it is not the establishment of the fact that would follow in response to the question that matters, but rather the negative inference the jury may draw from the refusal to answer that question. Most often, they are not the same, as demonstrated in Giacalone, where the actual answer to the question would only have determined whether or not the witness recalled a particular day.7
While this case does not involve the testimony of another accomplice, there certainly were sufficient facts to connect the witness to the defendant. In addition to being brothers, the witness and the defendant lived together. The jury already knew this. Any adverse inference to be drawn from the witness’ refusal to testify naturally would be “carried over” to the defendant.
An additional component of this case, which actu-
III
A. THOMAS
Defendant Thomas was charged with second-
As these persons, along with several others, were entering their respective vehicles, a truck drove by, firing shots at the group. At least two persons, the defendant and a Robert Jamerson, returned fire. Some testimony raised questions regarding whether one of the other members of the group, Demarcus Wesby, who was riding with Gee, might have been armed. Other testimony raised a question regarding the possibility of additional shots being fired from the area of a nearby building.
Of the many shots exchanged, ballistics evidence indicated that the shot that killed the victim came from the direction of the party, rather than the truck. The defendant was in line with the position from which the shot was fired, although the expert testimony could not rule out other potential sources, including the area of the nearby building. Jamerson‘s gun was of a different caliber and not the source of the fatal bullet. Defendant‘s gun was never recovered. There was no testimony to indicate that Gee had an active role in the gunfight.
Before the trial, the prosecutor and a detective visited Gee in jail, where he was incarcerated on unre-
In the course of the trial, Gee was brought to court to testify. Beginning with a court officer, he proceeded to make it clear to everyone he spoke to that he would not, in fact, testify. Eventually, this came to light, and, outside the presence of the jury, the court addressed the matter. The prosecutor felt it necessary to call Gee, while defense counsel suggested that Gee be advised of his rights and have counsel appointed. The court suggested a grant of immunity, with which the prosecutor agreed, as the easiest solution. The court then stated, despite a specific objection of defense counsel, citing People v Poma, 96 Mich App 726; 294 NW2d 221 (1980),11 that, should Gee still refuse, the prosecutor would be allowed to call him.
The trial court called Gee to the stand, still outside the jury‘s presence, and Gee refused to testify. When the court attempted to clarify that it was a Fifth Amendment privilege being asserted, Gee agreed. The
Despite defense counsel‘s frequent citation of Poma, the court recalled the jury and allowed the prosecutor‘s questioning of Gee to proceed. It did not get far. In response to being asked his name, Gee answered, “Well, I‘m making sure—I want—I‘m refusing to say anything until I get a legal representative.” Other than once repeating that he was refusing to say anything, that was the extent of Gee‘s testimony before the jury.
B
I now turn to the analysis of harmlessness in this case under the highly probable standard the Court enunciates today. I begin by noting what is not present in this case that was in Gearns. This case differs
Giacalone focused on the connection between the defendant and the witness and the inherent flow of a negative inference drawn from one to the other. Poma also noticed the importance of this connection, hence its focus on “intimate” witnesses. In this case, the witness and the defendant were friends and members of the same group. While that alone, depending on the circumstances, might be sufficient to connect them in a way that a negative inference drawn from the witness could “spill over” to the defendant,14 there is more involved in this case.
The context of this shooting was a gang-related dispute. Gang violence is laden with certain images, perhaps the most clear being, quite obviously, that a group enterprise is involved. The connection between gang members is quite similar to the accomplice connection of Giacalone, in perception even when not in fact, and hence it seems the testimony of Gee could well have spilled over to taint the jury‘s view of the defendant.
Additionally, the defendant notes, correctly, that certain imagery is inherent in society‘s perception of
Among a collection of shooters in a gang-related death, defendant faced charges on a fair amount of circumstantial evidence, but, again, little physical evidence. There was certainly some evidence to support a conviction, but likewise there was some that a jury could have found to support an acquittal. The improper inferences to be drawn from Gee‘s refusal to testify ranged from incriminating to extremely prejudicial. Given that, in this case, I cannot say that it is highly probable that these inferences that may have been drawn by the jury from their improper exposure
IV
I agree with Justice BRICKLEY‘S opinion in regard to its adoption of the “highly probable” test, and hence reject the position advocated by Justice WEAVER‘S dissent. I disagree on the application of the “highly probable” test to these facts, given the underlying circumstances of the cases, and the ominous nature of the inferences that the jury may have impermissibly drawn, inferences that in both cases actually go beyond those that we initially feared in our decision in Giacalone.
It has been suggested by the dissents of Justices WEAVER and BOYLE that our decision in Giacalone was based solely on a “prosecutorial misconduct” basis.16 I
V
Accordingly, I would reverse the decision of the Court of Appeals in Gearns, and affirm the decision in Thomas. In both cases the trial court committed clear error, and in neither case was it harmless under the standard we enunciate today.
KELLY, J., concurred with CAVANAGH, J.
WEAVER, J. (concurring in part and dissenting in part). I agree with the result of the lead opinion and join in the constitutional analysis. I write separately to dissent from part IV and concur, for different reasons, in part V.
In part IV, the lead opinion asserts that evidentiary error occurred. The lead opinion would hold that it was error in each case for the prosecutor to call witnesses intimately connected to the crimes at issue, knowing that those witnesses would assert their Fifth Amendment rights, validly or invalidly.
I disagree with this because I am convinced that error occurs only when the privilege asserted has been ruled to be valid by the trial court. The seminal case in this area is People v Giacalone, 399 Mich 642; 250 NW2d 492 (1977). There the defendant alleged that the prosecutor acted improperly in calling a witness, knowing that the witness would claim the privilege against self-incrimination. Citing the American Bar Association standards, this Court held that “[a] lawyer may not knowingly offer inadmissable evidence or call a witness knowing that he will claim a valid privilege not to testify.” Id. at 645.
The evidentiary rule established by Giacalone is grounded in professional misconduct. If the prosecutor has come to learn that the witness plans to claim a privilege, the proper procedure would seem to be to ask the court to rule on the validity of the privilege. The court should conduct the hearing outside the jury‘s presence in order to avoid jury taint. If there is a valid privilege, the prosecutor could not call the witness unless nonprivileged information could be and was elicited, thereby giving purpose to the witness’ appearance other than creation of the unwanted inference that the witness’ testimony would undercut the defendant‘s claim of innocence. If the privilege is found invalid by the trial court, the prosecution has every right to put the witness on the stand, expecting
The lead opinion also states that the validity of the privilege as determined by the trial court is not absolutely controlling in determining whether the prosecutor acted in good faith. I reject the implication of the lead opinion that the prosecutor cannot rely on the trial court‘s ruling regarding the validity of the privilege asserted. The prosecutor has no higher authority available at the time, and this Court should not require the prosecutor to develop a precognitive sense of whether the appellate courts will disagree with the trial court‘s ruling.
The lead opinion disregards the fact that the evidentiary error in question is grounded in professional misconduct, and says that “the validity of the privilege is not necessarily controlling in this evidentiary error analysis.” Ante at 197. In so saying, the lead opinion relies on the idea that “[i]f the concern is the prejudice to the defendant, then why focus on the validity of the witness’ constitutional rights?” Relying on the prejudice to the defendant, however, confuses whether the error was harmless with whether error existed.
In Giacalone, this Court found there was error because the prosecutor acted improperly by calling a witness, knowing that the witness had a valid privilege that would be asserted. Absent knowledge of a valid privilege, however, there is no unprofessional
In the instant cases, it is clear that neither witness was asserting a valid privilege. In Gearns, a hearing was held outside the presence of the jury before the witness was called to the stand. At that time, the trial judge held that the witness’ claim of privilege was not valid. In Thomas, the trial judge questioned the witness outside the presence of the jury, before the witness took the stand, and determined that the witness had no valid privilege to refuse to testify. Thus, I would find that in neither case was there evidentiary error.
II
The finding that there was no evidentiary error renders the discussion of harmless error unnecessary. However, I briefly address that issue because I disagree with the standard of review utilized by the lead opinion.
As I stated in People v Mateo, 453 Mich 203; 551 NW2d 891 (1996), I believe that the proper standard for preserved, nonconstitutional error is set out in
Since I believe there was no error, I concur with the lead opinion in finding that what it finds to be error is harmless.
BOYLE, J. (dissenting). I join part I of Justice WEAVER‘S opinion. Because I would find that there was no constitutional or evidentiary error in these cases, it is not necessary to reach the issue left open in People v Mateo, 453 Mich 203; 551 NW2d 891 (1996). Moreover, if there were error, it would be harmless under any test. Given this fact, the majority‘s motivation is obvious; it has simply used this case as a vehicle to adopt the high-probability standard, thereby rendering any meaningful exploration of one of the most important questions in our jurisprudence an exercise in futility. I otherwise agree with Justice WEAVER‘S reasoning and result and write separately to add only these observations regarding the lead opinion by Justice BRICKLEY.
If I understand the lead opinion, there is no constitutional doctrine applicable to this case. Nor is there evidentiary error of the type referenced in Namet v United States, 373 US 179; 83 S Ct 1151; 10 L Ed 2d 278 (1963). Further, neither People v Giacalone, 399 Mich 642; 250 NW2d 492 (1977), nor People v Dyer, 425 Mich 572; 390 NW2d 645 (1986), in terms apply, because each involved the calling of a witness for the purpose of having the witness invoke a valid Fifth Amendment privilege. In short, as far as I can determine, Commonwealth v DuVal, 453 Pa 205; 307 A2d 229 (1973), is the only court of last resort to hold that the prosecutor commits error calling a witness who has no privilege to refuse to testify. The rule of this case, therefore, is that prosecutors commit an ethical violation and are presumably subject to discipline when they merely call a witness to the stand who just does not want to get involved.
The need for probative evidence is the paramount concern of the system. Any rule that undermines that objective bears a heavy burden of justification by reference to another value of equal or greater importance. Even where there is a potentially valid privilege, as Professor McCormick has observed, a multifactor analysis is applied to determine whether error is committed when a prosecution witness is questioned before the jury and validly invokes his privilege.
Among the relevant considerations are the prosecutor‘s certainly that the witness will invoke the privilege, the number and nature of the questions as to which the privilege is invoked, whether other evidence has been introduced on those matters as to which the jury might draw an inference from the witness‘s invocation of the privilege, and the giving—and likely effectiveness—of an instruction to the jury to draw no inference from the witness‘s action. [1 McCormick, Evidence (4th ed), § 137, p 513.]
Given that the prosecutors in these cases acted in good faith, there can be no finding of “evidentiary” error on the basis of prosecutorial misconduct. Simply stated, if the privilege asserted is valid, because the judge just ruled it was valid, there is no ethical violation when the witness is merely called to the stand. Thus, there is no error based on the prosecutor‘s breach of ethics.
Giacalone turned on the Court‘s acceptance of the reference in the ABA Project on Standards for Criminal Justice1 to the ethical rule that “[a] lawyer may not knowingly offer inadmissable evidence or call a witness knowing that he will claim a valid privilege not to testify.” Giacalone at 645. In these cases, neither prosecutor knew that a witness would claim a valid privilege because the judge ruled otherwise. Moreover, neither acted in an unethical manner in any way. Thus, Justice BRICKLEY‘S opinion takes precedent that rests on the dual concerns that a prosecutor should not force a witness to claim a valid privilege and that a jury may draw inferences that are impermissible from such exercise and converts it into a rule that the prosecutor may not call a witness who has no privilege to refuse to testify because the jury might hold it against the defendant.
Concern that the witness’ refusal to testify might play a role in the jury‘s deliberations harmful to the defendant is speculative, not evidentiary. In Gearns, the prosecutor asked the witness, “Who do you reside
In Thomas, the witness refused to answer any questions whatsoever, “refusing to say anything . . . .” Ante at 179. As in Gearns, the conclusion that an adverse inference reasonably could be drawn from the testimony is bald speculation.
A jury is entitled to know that a witness has been produced and will not testify, rather than be told that it is not to speculate on the reasons why the witness is not present. Contrary to the principle that each man owes the court his evidence, the majority creates a rule that makes it easier to avoid that responsibility, that may result in an adverse inference against the prosecutor, and that deprives the jury of the full story.
[B]eyond the power of conventional evidence to support allegations and give life to the moral underpinnings of law‘s claims, there lies the need for evidence in all its particularity to satisfy the jurors’ expectations about what proper proof should be. . . “If [jurors‘] expectations are not satisfied, triers of fact may penalize the party who disappoints them by drawing a negative inference against that party.” Expectations may also arise in jurors’ minds simply from the experience of a trial itself. The use of witnesses to describe a train of events naturally related can raise the prospect of learning about every ingredient of that natural sequence the same way. If suddenly the prosecution presents some occurrence in the series differently, as by announcing a stipulation or admission [or that they are not to speculate about why a named and produced eyewitness is not present], the effect may be like saying, “never mind what‘s behind the door,” and jurors may well wonder what they are being kept from knowing. A party seemingly responsible for cloaking something has reason for apprehension. . . .
A syllogism is not a story, and a naked proposition in a courtroom may be no match for the robust evidence that would be used to prove it. People who hear a story interrupted by gaps of abstraction may be puzzled at the missing chapters, and jurors asked to rest a momentous decision on the story‘s truth can feel put upon at being asked to take responsibility knowing that more could be said than they have heard. A convincing tale can be told with economy, but when economy becomes a break in the natural sequence of narrative evidence, an assurance that the missing link is really there is never more than second best. [Old Chief v United States, 519 US 172, 188-189; 117 S Ct 644; 136 L Ed 2d 574 (1997).]
A rule depriving the jury of knowledge requires a compelling justification. There being no right to refuse to testify in these circumstances, no ethical violation by the prosecutor, and no legally cognizable prejudice to the defendant from the witness’ recalci-
Notes
Furthermore, given that the witness in Gearns was represented by counsel who steadfastly maintained that the witness had a valid privilege (and also noting the witness’ later acquittal on contempt charges arising from his refusal to testify), I believe the privilege in Gearns was in fact valid, and the trial court likely erred in determining otherwise. As we noted in People v Dyer, 425 Mich 572, 579; 390 NW2d 645 (1986), “a trial court may compel a witness to answer a question only where the court can foresee, as a matter of law, that such testimony could not incriminate the witness.” In view of the position taken by the witness’ counsel, who alone had access to the witness’ account of his true role in this crime, I find that the trial court could not have properly met this standard, and,
Lastly, when the United States Supreme Court was called on to consider this sort of error within a constitutional framework, it did not find it necessary to determine whether the claimed privilege was valid. Douglas v Alabama, 380 US 415, 420; 85 S Ct 1074; 13 L Ed 2d 934 (1965). While an evidentiary analysis theoretically could lead to a different conclusion, I see no reason why it should. For all these reasons, any focus on the validity of the privileges asserted in these cases, as urged in the dissents of Justices BOYLE and WEAVER, strikes me as misguided. The current ABA Standards for Criminal Justice, Standard 3-1.1, Prosecution Function and Defense Function (3d ed), p 3, specifically state that “[t]hese standards . . . are not intended to be used as criteria for the judicial evaluation of alleged misconduct of the prosecutor to determine the validity of a conviction. They may or may not be relevant in such judicial evaluation, depending upon all the circumstances.”
Again, the inappropriateness of focusing on whether the witness should testify, when it is obvious he will not, is clear from our past cases.If the court concludes that the witness has no legitimate privilege, it should consider contempt penalties or other alternative remedies against the witness. Yet, with respect to the defendant, the court must proceed to determine if the witness intends to assert that privilege, whether validly or invalidly, at trial. If the intimate witness intends to claim the protection of the Fifth Amendment at trial, there really is no way to prevent prejudice to the defendant absent barring that witness. As other jurisdictions have noted, a cautionary instruction that no negative inference is to be drawn from the witness‘s taciturnity is ineffectual. [Id. at 732-733 (citations omitted; emphasis added).]
While the prosecutor can rely on the trial court‘s ruling as accurate, that is only half the picture. The other half is whether the witness will in fact comply with such a ruling and testify. In these cases, both witnesses, one through counsel (asserting a legal position with merit) and the other through sheer obstinance, made it abundantly clear that they would not be testifying. The prosecutors had no need to possess extraordinary gifts, nor to consult with psychic advisors, to understand fully that the witnesses would not be testifying. To separate the reality of the witnesses’ noncompliance from the ruling of the trial court, and claim a sound basis on the latter, ignores the very prejudice to be inflicted, which this rule, beginning with Giacalone, has sought to avoid.
Justice BOYLE‘S dissent attacks this view as ignoring “the prosecutor‘s ethical obligations as an officer of the court to put the truth before the jury.” Post at 228. Of course, I do not purport to impinge on such a duty at all. Nor, however, would I purport to involve it in support of a position where it is not the least bit endangered, as here.
In Thomas, Gee was but one of sixty-odd witnesses on the witness list. The prosecutor could advance only the same, unsupported, concern, as my sister, that the jury should hear from him, lest they retire to wonder, “What about Gee?” We have long since had instructions to alleviate such concerns, and, more importantly, even before this Court, the prosecutor has not offered the slightest indication that the absence of Gee would have prevented any part of the truth from coming before the jury. As noted, below, his testimony, if given, would have been cumulative of that of many other witnesses.
My sister offers the truism that “each man owes the court his evidence,” post at 229. While this is generally correct, the remedy for a violation of a witness’ duty to the court must lie against the witness, not the defendant. As to those reluctant witnesses whom Justice BOYLE fears will be encouraged not to testify, the court has contempt remedies available. They were, of course, ineffective in Gearns, because the witness was (1) legitimately in fear of far worse penalties were he to incriminate himself, and (2) eventually acquitted of the contempt charges. As to the already incarcerated Gee in Thomas, I suppose, unfortunately, that other such witnesses, equally lacking in respect for our courts or fear of consequences, may appear before our courts. Given, however, that it took no such decision from our Court to so embolden Mr. Gee, I fail to see how the decision today will have any effect on either the conduct of witnesses or the consequences they may face. Our focus today rests, as did the focus of Judge RILEY in Poma, on the consequences “with respect to the defendant.” Poma, 96 Mich App 732.
First, the prospective witness must show, at the very least, that he is faced with some authentic danger of incrimination. United States v Castro, 129 F3d 226, 229 (CA 1, 1997), citing Hoffman v United States, 341 US 479, 486-487; 71 S Ct 814; 95 L Ed 1118 (1951). Because the privilege cannot be invoked on a blanket basis and thus operates question by question, the trial court must conduct a particularized inquiry. Id. at 229. The questions need not be directly incriminating for the privilege to attach. Moreover,
[i]f a reply to a seemingly innocuous question reasonably will tend to sculpt a rung in the ladder of evidence leading to prosecution, the privilege appropriately may be invoked. [Id. at 229; Hoffman at 486.]
The trial judge here conducted no such inquiry. It was established before trial, on the basis of information he gave the police, that Gregory Gearns had a valid privilege regarding events after the murder. He was granted immunity as an accessory after the fact. However, he was asserting his Fifth Amendment privilege regarding events occurring before that.
It was apparently legal error for the trial judge in Gearns to fail to conduct a particularized inquiry of Gregory Gearns’ assertion of the privilege regarding events not covered by the grant of immunity. The prosecutor and the trial judge seemed to believe that this witness did not have a valid privilege because the prosecutor had no evidence of his involvement, except as an accessory after the fact. However, the validity of the privilege is not dependent on whether the authorities already have evidence against a person. The point of the privilege is to invoke the right to prevent the authorities from compelling a witness to give self-incriminating evidence.
Moreover, “it is never within the trial court‘s discretion to make a determination that is premised on an incorrect legal standard.” Castro at 229. Here, the trial judge relied on an incorrect legal standard; the validity of the privilege is not based on whether the prosecutor already has any evidence that would incriminate a witness. Gregory Gearns was also later acquitted of contempt, which further evidences the real possibility that his privilege was indeed valid, contrary to the decision of the trial court. I pause to note that, while the prosecution in these cases has argued a lack of knowledge that the witness would assert the privilege, they have failed to be at all convincing. The arguments here center on the possibility that the presence of the jury might somehow compel the witness to testify, despite his (or his counsel‘s) repeated statements to the contrary that no such thing would occur. Gee made clear that the court could “give me some more years, it wouldn‘t bother me.” Counsel for Gregory Gearns made clear his client had a valid fear of incrimination and would continue to refuse to testify, despite the threat of contempt (the sanctions for which are substantially less than those for the crimes for which Gregory Gearns was potentially exposed to liability).