In Re Investigation of Recount , 270 Mich. 328 ( 1935 )

This case is here on an application for leave to appeal in the nature of mandamus, certiorari and prohibition.

Notice of the application was given to the attorney general's department and to George E. Brand, designated by the judge of the recorder's court for the city of Detroit.

The application involves only legal questions which have been fully argued and considered by the court and, at the request of counsel for both parties, an opinion is filed disposing of the same.

Petitioner alleges five reasons which are thus stated in petitioner's brief:

"1. Has the judge of the recorder's court of the city of Detroit, which is a court of limited jurisdiction, the power to conduct an investigation under the so-called one man grand jury act?

"2. If the said recorder's court has such jurisdiction, then may it take cognizance of any matter coming within the terms of said act except on petition of the prosecuting attorney of Wayne county?

"3. If the court has such jurisdiction then may it exclude the prosecuting attorney of Wayne county from participating in such proceedings?

"4. Has a judge of said recorder's court the right or the power to appoint a 'friend of the court' to conduct said proceedings to the exclusion of the prosecuting attorney of Wayne county?

"5. Assuming the said court to have such jurisdiction, and a judge thereof the right or power described aforesaid, has a general officer of the State the right to invade the county of Wayne to the exclusion of its local officers and initiate such a proceeding in contravention of the Constitution and laws of the State which guarantee local rule to the people?"

The proposed appeal is from an order of the judge of the recorder's court of the city of Detroit, purporting to have been made under 3 Comp. Laws 1929, § 17217 et seq., which statute governs the proceedings. That statute provides complaint may be made before "any justice of the peace, police judge or judge of a court of record."

Judge Cotter had jurisdiction of this proceeding and of the locus of the offense alleged in the complaint.^*

The statute provides that: "whenever by reason of the filing of any complaint, which may be upon information and belief," the judge may proceed, which indicates that the complaint may be made by any one and neither the prosecuting attorney of the county of Wayne nor the attorney general of the State of Michigan is a necessary party complainant.

Any private person may appear and make complaint under this statute. The investigation is conducted by the judge and he may require any person or persons whom he may require to attend and be examined as witnesses the same as upon a complaint naming a particular person as defendant. The judge, in making this investigation, may call such assistants from the bar or otherwise as he may desire. The investigation, being under the control of the judge and in the nature of an inquest, and not a specific proceeding under the control of the prosecuting attorney or the attorney general, it may be instituted by any private citizen and is not one which may be instituted only by the attorney general or the prosecuting attorney. It is, in its nature, a proceeding for the discovery of crime and the apprehension of criminals under the control of the judge and not under the control of either the prosecuting attorney or the attorney general, one in which the public is interested and which is entrusted by the statute to the judge.

It is no invasion of the constitutional right of municipal home rule that the judge of the recorder's court of the city of Detroit investigates, upon complaint made, the charges in such complaint indicating crimes have been committed within the city of Detroit.

Leave to appeal denied.

^* 3 Comp. Laws 1929, § 16309, provides that the recorder's court of the city of Detroit shall be a court of record.