People v. Weeks

165 Mich. 362 | Mich. | 1911

Hooker, J.

(after stating the facts). Counsel for defendant rely on the early case of Grigg v. People, 31 Mich. 471, in which this court held that a record of an arraignment and plea were essential to the validity of a conviction.- The return was silent on the subject, and the attorney general conceded that arraignment and plea were essential. This record differs materially from the record in Grigg v. People. In this case the defendant filed affidavits denying the charge under oath and asserting that he had a meritorious defense. He complained of delay caused by a postponement of his trial, and, when tried, heard his counsel state to the jury that he had pleaded not guilty to the charge. Whether or not the omission of an arraignment and plea and the record thereof ought to be considered as more than a formal defect to be disregarded under the statute (Comp. Laws 1857, § 6043; 3 Comp. Laws, § 11908), as indicated by Mr. Justice Christiancy in his opinion in Hensche v. People, 16 Mich. 46-49, the affidavit denying guilt filed in the case and his counsel’s statement to the jury that the defendant had pleaded not guilty gave him the full benefit of such a plea in fact, and justified the entry of such a plea nunc pro tunc under the case of Grigg v. People, supra. We also think that the presence of defendant in court through a trial of the cause upon the merits represented by counsel, who failed to call attention to the omission of arraignment and plea, was a waiver of his right thereto, and we cite in support of this for future convenience the following cases which the industry of counsel has collected, several of which cases overrule earlier ones in harmony with Grigg v. People, supra.

Announcing himself ready for trial has been held to be in effect entering a plea. Spicer v. People, 11 Ill. App. 294; People v. Bradner, 107 N. Y. 1 (13 N. E. 87); People v. Frost, 5 Parker, Cr. R. (N. Y.) 52; Avery v. People, 11 Ill. App. 332; People v. Tower, 17 N. Y. Supp. 395.

After trial on the merits want of plea does not render a conviction invalid. State v. Straub, 16 Wash. 111 (47 Pac. 227); Molihan v. State, 30 Ind. 266; State v. Hayes, 67 Iowa, 27 (24 N. W. 575); State v. Greene, 66 Iowa, 11 (23 N. W. 154); U. S. v. Molloy (C. C.), 31 Fed. 19; State v. Thompson, 95 Iowa, 464 (64 N. W. 419); Hudson v. State, 117 Ga. 704 (45 S. E. 66); Waller v. State, 2 Ga. App. 636 (58 S. E. 1106).

In the case of People v. Osterhout, 34 Hun (N. Y.), 260, the subject was treated as follows:

“ The defect is merely technical, affecting no rights whatever. * * * Nor may this court on appeal regard technical errors or defects, or exceptions which do not affect substantial rights (referring to the statute). If this section is to have any meaning at all, it applies exactly to a case like the present. * * * Every one who knows anything of a criminal trial must see that the omission did the defendant no harm. * * * Where the prisoner appears with his own counsel, the omission formally to arraign and ask for a plea is immaterial to his rights and may be deemed to be waived.”

To the same effect see People v. Bradner, 107 N. Y. 1-9 (13 N. E. 87, 90), where the court says:

“A formal plea of not guilty is not necessary to put the defendant on trial.”

Further, in effect, going to trial as if an issue were formed, all participants acting as if all formalities had been complied with, is equivalent to an arraignment and plea.

“ It would be sacrificing substance to form not to give effect to the transaction according to the plain understanding of the court and the parties.” People v. Bradner, supra.

The State of Kansas also recognizes some exceptions to the general rule; its courts holding that: A failure to arraign the defendant and to enter a' formal plea of not guilty is not a ground for reversal or arrest of judgment, when it appears that the defendant was present, announced himself ready for trial, and regularly went to trial before the jury without objection. State v. Cassady, 12 Kan. 550.

The Mississippi courts hold that: An arraignment and plea are mere matters of form, and may be expressly or impliedly waived by the defendant, or cured by trial or verdict without objection. Bateman v. State, 64 Miss. 233 (1 South. 172).

In South Dakota it is held that: Where a record shows the presence personally and by counsel of a defendant charged with a felony, his announcement of ready for trial, and a trial on the merits without objection, failure to show affirmatively the fact of arraignment is not ground for reversal. State v. Reddington, 7 S. D. 368 (64 N. W. 170).

Also that an arraignment may be waived, even when the charge is a felony, is held in the following cases: State v. Robinson, 36 La. Ann. 873; State v. Glave, 51 Kan. 330 (33 Pac. 8); Kelly v. People, 132 Ill. 363 (24 N. E. 56); State v. Winstrand, 37 Iowa, 111; State v. Grate, 68 Mo. 22; Molihan v. State, 30 Ind. 266; Mitchell v. State, 22 Ga. 211 (68 Am. Dec. 493); People v. McHale, 15 N. Y. Supp. 496; Douglass v. State, 3 Wis. 820; Peoples v. Osterhout, 34 Hun (N. Y.), 260; Pierson v. People, 79 N. Y. 424 (35 Am. Rep. 524). And this may be accomplished not only by expressly waiving arraignment (Goodin v. State, 16 Ohio St. 344; State v. Robinson, 36 La. Ann. 873; State v. Glave, 51 Kan. 330 [33 Pac. 8]), but also by acts equivalent thereto. State v. Winstrand, 37 Iowa, 110; State v. Grate, 68 Mo. 22; Molihan v. State, 30 Ind. 266; People v. Lightner, 49 Cal. 226; State v. Thompson, 95 Iowa, 464 (64 N. W. 419); Spicer v. People, 11 Ill. App. 294; Hudson v. State, 117 Ga. 704 (45 S. E. 66); Waller v. State, 2 Ga. App. 636 (58 S. E. 1106); State v. Reddington, 7 S. D. 368 (64 N. W. 170); State v. Cassady, 12 Kan. 550; People v. Tower, 63 Hun (N. Y.), 624; State v. Straub, 16 Wash. 111 (47 Pac. 227); State v. Hayes, 67 Iowa, 27 (24 N. W. 575); U. S. v. Molloy (C. C.), 31 Fed. 19; Bateman v. State, 64 Miss. 233 (1 South. 172); People v. Bradner, 107 N. Y. 1 (13 N. E. 87); People v. Frost, 5 Parker, Cr. R. (N. Y.) 52; Avery v. People, 11 Ill. App. 332; 2 Enc. Pl. & Prac. p. 761; Fitzpatrick v. People, 98 Ill. 259.

In Hack v. State, 141 Wis. 346 (124 N. W. 492), the court said:

“ The accused is entitled to every constitutional right; but he should not be allowed to juggle with them. He has no right to be silent, and then after the decision has gone against him raise the plea that he was not given his right. Should he be allowed to play his game with loaded dice? Should justice be allowed to travel with leaden heel, because the defendant has secretly stored up some technical error not affecting the merits, and thus securing a new trial because, forsooth, he can waive nothing ? We think not. We think that sound reason, good sense, and the interests of the public demand that the ancient rule, framed originally for other conditions, be laid aside, at least so far as all prosecutions for offenses less than capital are concerned. We believe it has been laid aside in fact * * * by the former decisions of this court. It is believed that this court has uniformly attempted to disregard mere formal errors and technical objections, not affecting any substantial right, and to adhere to the spirit of the law which giveth life, rather than to the letter which killeth.”

In the same case Justice Marshall, in a concurring opinion, says:

“While in my judgment the decision here is conformable to and required by the law of 1856 and numerous decisions that rights, even of a fundamental character, may be waived in a criminal, as well as in a civil, case, overruling the principle of Davis v. State [38 Wis. 487], I claim for the court inherent power and duty to reach the same result independently of legislative assistance. The doctrine of Davis v. State as to arraignment and plea not being waivable, is wholly of judicial creation. Not only, as said by the Chief Justice, have the basic reasons which suggested such doctrine as a guard against injustice long since ceased to exist, but just as weighty reasons, prior to the legislation of 1856, called for its abrogation as a useless interference with the due administration of justice. The inherent power of the court, which originated the doctrine to satisfy seeming requirements of the social state which no longer exist, may properly be used to lay it aside as a legal curiosity, appreciable only by a knowledge of its antecedents, and inadaptable for any beneficial purpose in our modern life.”

We think that the prosecutor’s most excellent brief, from which we have quoted liberally in this opinion, conclusively shows that the trend of judicial opinion supports overwhelmingly the validity of this conviction. It is therefore affirmed.

Moore, McAlvay, Brooke, and Blair, JJ., concurred.