People v. Walter

Defendant waived a jury trial and was tried by a judge on the charge of rape. The trial judge found defendant guilty of assault with intent to commit rape.

In his request for reversal, defendant urges application of the rule promulgated by our Supreme Court’s decision of People v Ramsey, 385 Mich 221 (1971). The Ramsey decision involved the constitutional right of confrontation 2 possessed by all who are accused of criminal conduct. Under the Ramsey rationale the right of confrontation is denied when a trial judge, sitting without a jury, "glances” at a preliminary examination transcript which…