Opinion
No. 113230.
FILED JULY 8, 1999.
On order of the Court, the delayed application for leave to appeal from the September 11, 1998 decision of the Court of Appeals is considered and, pursuant to MCR 7.302(F)(1), in lieu of granting leave to appeal, we ORDER the prosecutor to show cause in writing, in this Court, within 28 days after the date of this order, why the defendant's conviction should not be reversed on the grounds that: (1) the trial judge made inappropriate statements that unfairly prejudiced the defendant; and (2) the trial judge erred reversibly by allowing witnesses to offer hearsay testimony about the complainant's statements.
The defendant is directed to file with the Wayne County Circuit Court an affidavit concerning his present financial status (see guidelines at 387 Mich. xxxi). The Wayne County Circuit Court must provide the prosecutor with a copy of the defendant's affidavit. The prosecutor may challenge the defendant's assertion of indigency by filing an appropriate motion with the Wayne County Circuit Court within 14 days after the prosecutor receives the copy of the affidavit. If such challenge is brought, the Wayne County Circuit Court must conduct a hearing on the matter within 21 days after the prosecutor's motion is filed. The prosecutor, the defendant, and an attorney appointed by the Wayne County Circuit Court to represent the defendant must appear at the hearing.
If the Wayne County Circuit Court determines that the defendant is indigent, the Court must continue the appointment of the defendant's appellate counsel. That order must be entered within 14 days after the hearing or, if the prosecutor has not challenged the defendant's assertion of indigency, within 28 days after the defendant files his affidavit. The Wayne County Circuit Court must promptly forward to the Clerk of this Court a copy of the appointment order.
If the Wayne County Circuit Court determines that the defendant is not indigent, the Wayne County Circuit Court must promptly notify the Clerk of this Court.
The defendant's response must be filed within 28 days after the filing of the prosecutor's show cause pleadings, or within 21 days after counsel's renewed appointment, whichever is later.