People of Michigan v. Ervine Lee Davenport

Order Michigan Supreme Court
Lansing, Michigan
March 9, 2011 Robert P. Young, Jr.,
Chief Justice
141832 Michael F. Cavanagh
Marilyn Kelly
Stephen J. Markman
Diane M. Hathaway
Mary Beth Kelly
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN, Brian K. Zahra,
Plaintiff-Appellee, Justices
v SC: 141832
COA: 287767
Kalamazoo CC: 2007-000165-FC
ERVINE LEE DAVENPORT,
Defendant-Appellant.
_________________________________________/
On order of the Court, the application for leave to appeal the August 5, 2010
judgment of the Court of Appeals is considered and, pursuant to MCR 7.302(H)(1), in
lieu of granting leave to appeal, we REVERSE the Court of Appeals order denying the
defendant’s motion to remand for an evidentiary hearing. The defendant should have
been permitted to develop the record on the issue of whether his shackling during trial
prejudiced his defense. See Rhoden v Rowland, 10 F3d 1457, 1460 (CA 9, 1993). We
also REVERSE the Court of Appeals determination that the defendant did not preserve
the issue of whether his shackling during trial constituted a due process violation, because
defense counsel requested that both of defendant’s hands be unshackled to avoid the
prejudice that would result if the jury saw the shackles, and the circuit court denied her
request. See Fast Air, Inc v Knight, 235 Mich App 541, 549 (1999); trial transcript
Volume I, p 113. If it is determined that the jury saw the defendant’s shackles, the circuit
court shall determine whether the prosecution can demonstrate beyond a reasonable
doubt that the shackling error did not contribute to the verdict against the defendant.
Deck v Missouri, 544 US 622, 635; 125 S Ct 2007; 161 L Ed 2d 953 (2005). We
REMAND this case to the circuit court for further proceedings consistent with this order.
In all other respects, leave to appeal is DENIED, because we are not persuaded that the
remaining questions presented should be reviewed by this Court.
We do not retain jurisdiction.
I, Corbin R. Davis, 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 9, 2011 _________________________________________
p0302 Clerk