209 Mich. App. 564 - People v. Austin’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

2 state decisions

Most-quoted passages

The sentences later courts lift from this opinion, ranked by how many decisions quote each — the parts of the opinion doing the work. These counts are smaller than the citation total above because most of the 2 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “According to MCR 6.301(A), a court may refuse to accept a defendant's plea "pursuant to the rules." MCR 6.001(D) provides that the rules of civil procedure apply to criminal cases. Further, MCR 2.401(B)(1)(b) establishes that a trial court may enter a scheduling order setting time limitations for the processing of a case. Reading these rules together, it is clear that the trial court had the authority to reject a plea that was entered into after the date set forth in the scheduling order. MCR 2.401(B)(1)(b). We note that this interpretation of MCR 6.301(A) is in harmony with MCR 6.002, which states that these rules "are to be construed to secure simplicity in procedure, fairness in administration, and the elimination of unjustifiable expense and delay." Furthermore, this construction of MCR 6.301(A) recognizes the trial court's authority to control its docket. See People v. Dowell, 199 Mich.App. 554 , 502 N.W.2d 757 (1993). In this case, defendant and the prosecutor reached a plea agreement one day before trial; more than one month after the May 13, 1991, cutoff date. The trial court's refusal to accept defendant's plea agreement enhanced its docket control, eliminated unjustifiable expense and delay, and was, therefore, proper. [ 209 Mich.App. at 567 , 531 N.W.2d 811 .]”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. People v. Grove