Categories: Michigan Supreme Court Opinions

PEOPLE v. WALKER, 472 Mich. 928 (2005)

697 N.W.2d 527

PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. ALVIN C. WALKER, JR., Defendant-Appellant.

No. 128515.Supreme Court of Michigan.
June 17, 2005.

SC: 128515, COA: 250006, Oakland CC: 2002-187306-FH.

On order of the Court, the application for leave to appeal the March 24, 2005 judgment of the Court of Appeals is considered, and it is GRANTED. The parties are directed to include among the issues to be briefed: (1) whether each of the victim’s hearsay statements was “testimonial” in nature and thus inadmissible under the rule of Crawford v. Washington, 541 US 36, 124 S Ct 1354, 158 L Ed 2d 177 (2004); (2) if so, whether Crawford
should be applied retroactively; (3) if any of the statements are nontestimonial under Crawford, whether they were admissible as excited utterances pursuant to MRE 803(2); and (4) if any of the statements are testimonial under Crawford, whether their admission was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.

We ORDER the Oakland Circuit Court, in accordance with Administrative Order 2003-03, to determine whether the defendant is indigent and, if so, to appoint counsel to represent the defendant in this Court.

We further ORDER that this case be argued and submitted to the Court together with the case of People v. Mileski (Docket No. 127457), at such future session of the Court as both cases are ready for submission.

The Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan and the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan are invited to file briefs amicus curiae. Other persons or groups interested in the determination of the questions presented in this case may move the Court for permission to file briefs amicus curiae.

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