Opinion
SC: 150371
03-25-2015
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. CHARLES ALMANDO-MAURICE DUNBAR, Defendant-Appellee.
Order
Robert P. Young, Jr., Chief Justice Stephen J. Markman Mary Beth Kelly Brian K. Zahra Bridget M. McCormack David F. Viviano Richard H. Bernstein, Justices COA: 314877
Muskegon CC: 12-062736-FH
On order of the Court, the application for leave to appeal the September 9, 2014 judgment of the Court of Appeals is considered. We direct the Clerk to schedule oral argument on whether to grant the application or take other action. MCR 7.302(H)(1). We ORDER the Muskegon Circuit Court, in accordance with Administrative Order 2003-03, to determine whether the defendant is indigent and, if so, to appoint attorney Michael L. Oakes, 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. If the defendant is not indigent, he must retain his own counsel.
The parties shall file supplemental briefs within 42 days of the date of the order appointing counsel, or of the ruling that the defendant is not entitled to appointed counsel, addressing whether the license plate affixed to the defendant's vehicle violated MCL 257.225(2) where it was obstructed by a towing ball, thereby permitting law enforcement officers to conduct a traffic stop of the defendant's vehicle. The parties should not submit mere restatements of their application papers.
The Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan and the Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan are invited to file briefs amicus curiae. Other persons or groups interested in the determination of the issue presented in this case may move the Court for permission to file briefs amicus curiae.
I, Larry S. Royster, Clerk of the Michigan Supreme Court, certify that the foregoing is a true and complete copy of the order entered at the direction of the Court.
March 25, 2015
/s/_________
Clerk