Summary
In People v Langley, 187 Mich App 147, 150; 466 NW2d 724 (1991), this Court stated that "[i]t is well established that the Double Jeopardy Clause does not preclude the retrial of a defendant whose conviction is set aside because of any error in the proceedings leading to conviction other than the insufficiency of the evidence to support the verdict."
Summary of this case from People v. AcevalOpinion
Docket No. 116647.
Decided January 22, 1991, at 9:50 A.M.
Frank J. Kelley, Attorney General, Gay Secor Hardy, Solicitor General, and Norman W. Donker, Prosecuting Attorney, for the people.
State Appellate Defender (by Richard B. Ginsberg), for the defendant on appeal.
Before: MARILYN KELLY, P.J., and HOOD and DOCTOROFF, JJ.
The prosecutor appeals as of right from the order dismissing this case, arguing that Midland Circuit Judge Thomas A. Beale erred in determining that the retrial of defendant was barred on double jeopardy grounds. We agree, and reverse.
On November 23, 1988, defendant was convicted by a jury of violating the statute prohibiting parental kidnapping and custodial interference, MCL 750.350a(1); MSA 28.582(1)(1). Defendant subsequently filed a motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict and for reconsideration of his earlier motion for a directed verdict. At a hearing on December 9, 1988, the trial judge, Midland Circuit Judge Tyrone Gillespie, denied defendant's motion, but set aside the verdict and ordered a new trial on the ground that his failure to instruct the jury regarding the definition of reasonable doubt denied defendant a fair trial and was error requiring reversal.
At a subsequent hearing on motions filed by defendant, Judge Beale, who succeeded Judge Gillespie, raised the issue of double jeopardy. Judge Beale concluded that Judge Gillespie had effectively declared a mistrial without manifest necessity, because the jury had been adequately instructed regarding reasonable doubt. Judge Beale also found that defendant had not moved for a new trial or consented to a new trial and, therefore, that retrial was barred on the ground of double jeopardy. The order dismissing the case was entered February 23, 1989.
The prosecutor argues that Judge Beale erroneously determined that, by granting a new trial, Judge Gillespie effectively declared a mistrial and that Judge Beale then erroneously applied the rules relating to mistrials and dismissed the case.
The Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution and the Michigan Constitution, Const 1963, art 1, § 15, guarantee that no person is to be twice put in jeopardy for the same offense.
"Being twice put in jeopardy" includes being subjected to a retrial after the initial prosecution ends in a mistrial. An exception to the double jeopardy bar has been made, and retrials allowed, where the prosecutorial or judicial errors requiring the mistrial appear to have been innocent or were beyond the prosecutor's control. A general exception has also been made where the mistrial was granted on the defendant's motion or with his consent. Where prosecutorial conduct provoked the defendant's motion for mistrial, however, the Double Jeopardy Clause has sometimes been held to bar retrial. [ People v Dawson, 431 Mich. 234, 236; 427 N.W.2d 886 (1988).]
The prosecutor correctly argues that Judge Beale erred in determining that the grant of a new trial was, in effect, a declaration of a mistrial. A mistrial and a new trial are not the same thing. A new trial is "[a] re-examination of an issue of fact in the same court after a trial and decision by a jury or court or by referees." Black's Law Dictionary (4th ed), p 1675. The trial court in a criminal case "may grant a new trial to the defendant, for any cause for which by law a new trial may be granted, or when it appears to the court that justice has not been done. . . ." MCL 770.1; MSA 28.1098. The trial court may order a new trial on its own initiative. MCR 2.611(C). A mistrial is equivalent to no trial. A mistrial occurs where the jury is discharged and the trial ends before a verdict is reached. See Dawson, supra, p 251. There was no mistrial in this case. The jury's verdict was entered on November 23, 1988. Defendant thereafter moved for posttrial relief. Judge Gillespie set aside the verdict and ordered a new trial. Judge Beale, therefore, erred in applying the rules relating to mistrials.
It is well established that the Double Jeopardy Clause does not preclude the retrial of a defendant whose conviction is set aside because of any error in the proceedings leading to conviction other than the insufficiency of the evidence to support the verdict. United States v Tateo, 377 U.S. 463, 465; 84 S Ct 1587; 12 L Ed 2d 448 (1964); Burks v United States, 437 U.S. 1, 14-16; 98 S Ct 2141; 57 L Ed 2d 1 (1978); Montana v Hall, 481 U.S. 400, 402; 107 S Ct 1825; 95 L Ed 2d 354 (1987); Lockhart v Nelson, 488 U.S. 33, 38; 109 S Ct 285; 102 L Ed 2d 265 (1988). It is irrelevant whether the conviction is set aside through a direct appeal or a collateral attack. Tateo, supra, p 466; Lockhart, supra, p 38.
Applying these rules to the instant case, we conclude that Judge Beale erred in ruling that the retrial of defendant was barred on double jeopardy grounds. In the instant case, defendant attacked the verdict by moving for judgment notwithstanding the verdict and for reconsideration of his earlier motion for a directed verdict. Judge Gillespie clearly ruled that there was sufficient evidence to support the verdict and denied defendant's motions. However, Judge Gillespie, sua sponte, set aside the verdict because he was convinced that he had committed prejudicial error by failing to instruct the jury regarding the definition of reasonable doubt. Judge Gillespie determined that, to remedy the error, a new trial should be ordered.
A new trial may be granted whenever the substantial rights of all or some of the parties are materially affected by an irregularity in the proceedings which denied the moving party a fair trial or where an error of law occurred in the proceedings. MCR 2.611(A)(1)(a) and (g); People v Jehnsen, 183 Mich. App. 305, 310; 454 N.W.2d 250 (1990). The giving of erroneous jury instructions is an error of law and may form the basis for granting a new trial. Mitchell v Daly, 133 Mich. App. 414, 428; 350 N.W.2d 772 (1984). A decision on a motion for a new trial will not be reversed absent a clear abuse of discretion. Jehnsen, supra, p 311. On the basis of our review of the transcript provided, we cannot say that a clear abuse of discretion occurred.
We note that neither party argues on appeal that Judge Gillespie's ruling was erroneous.
Defendant's argument on appeal, that Judge Beale properly ruled that retrial was barred on the ground of double jeopardy because defendant's motion for a directed verdict should have been granted in that there was insufficient evidence, is not properly presented. An appellee is limited to the issues raised by the appellant unless a cross appeal is filed. Defendant did not file a cross appeal. MCR 7.207; Bhama v Bhama, 169 Mich. App. 73, 83; 425 N.W.2d 733 (1988). In addition, the transcripts necessary to review this issue have not been submitted to this Court.
Judge Beale's dismissal of this case is reversed, and the matter is remanded for a new trial pursuant to Judge Gillespie's December 9, 1988, order.
Reversed and remanded for a new trial. We do not retain jurisdiction.