Opinion
Docket No. 151439. COA No. 318680.
10-12-2016
PEOPLE of the State of Michigan, Plaintiff–Appellee, v. Phillip Joseph SWIFT, a/k/a Phillip Joseph Swift, Jr., Defendant–Appellant.
Order
By order of April 6, 2016, the prosecuting attorney was directed to answer the application for leave to appeal the February 19, 2015 judgment of the Court of Appeals. On order of the Court, the answer having been received, the application for leave to appeal is again considered. We direct the Clerk to schedule oral argument on whether to grant the application or take other action. MCR 7.305(H)(1). We further ORDER the Wayne Circuit Court, in accordance with Administrative Order 2003–03, to determine whether the defendant is indigent and, if so, to appoint attorney Nicholas J. Vendittelli, if feasible, to represent the defendant in this Court. If this appointment is not feasible, the trial court shall, within the same time frame, appoint other counsel to represent the defendant in this Court. The parties shall file supplemental briefs within 42 days of the date of the order appointing counsel, addressing: (1) whether serving the habitual offender notice prior to the defendant's arraignment on the information satisfies the 21–day time requirement under MCL 769.13, and (2) if not, whether the harmless error rules apply to the failure to serve the habitual offender notice within the 21–day time requirement under MCL 769.13. With regard to the latter issue, see In Forfeiture of Bail Bond, 496 Mich. 320, 330, 852 N.W.2d 747 (2014) ; see also MCL 769.26 and MCR 2.613. The parties should not submit mere restatements of their application papers.