[Cite as State v. D.W., 133 Ohio St.3d 434, 2012-Ohio-4544.]

THE STATE OF OHIO, APPELLEE, v. D.W., APPELLANT. 

[Cite as State v. D.W., 133 Ohio St.3d 434, 2012-Ohio-4544.] 

Juvenile law—R.C. 2152.12(B)(3) amenability hearing can be waived under 

proper procedures—Judgment reversed, and cause remanded.

(No. 2011-1677—Submitted June 5, 2012—Decided October 4, 2012.) 

APPEAL from the Court of Appeals for Cuyahoga County, 

No. 95750, 2011-Ohio-4096. 

__________________ 

SYLLABUS OF THE COURT

An amenability hearing under R.C. 2152.12(B)(3) may be waived provided (1) 

the juvenile, through counsel, expressly states on the record a waiver of 

the amenability hearing and (2) the juvenile court engages in a colloquy on 

the record with the juvenile to determine that the waiver was made 

knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently. 

__________________ 

O’CONNOR, C.J. 

{¶ 1} In this appeal, we decide whether a hearing to determine a 

juvenile’s amenability to care or rehabilitation in the juvenile system may be 

waived, and we set forth the standard for valid waiver. For the reasons that 

follow, we hold that the record does not support a finding that D.W. waived his 

right to an amenability hearing. Accordingly, we reverse the judgment of the 

court of appeals and remand this case to the juvenile court for an amenability 

hearing or proper waiver of it. 

Background 

{¶ 2} Appellant, D.W., was charged with burglary, a felony, and other 

crimes in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, case 

No. DL 09-121602. At the time of the offenses, D.W. was 17 years old. 
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{¶ 3} The juvenile court conducted a probable-cause hearing. After 

stipulating to D.W.’s birth date, the juvenile court heard testimony from Shanay 

Ball, a victim of the crimes. The juvenile court stated, “Based on the testimony, 

the Court finds that there is probable cause here.” The juvenile court then noted 

that transfer of jurisdiction to adult court was discretionary and that D.W. had 

been bound over in a prior case. The following exchange occurred: 

[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: So the Court’s aware he has been 

bound. He does have a prior bindover that the Court has just to 

refresh the Court’s recollection. 

THE COURT: Yes. He has a bindover pending, right? 

[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: He actually was bound over. 

[ASSISTANT PROSECUTOR]: And been indicted in adult 

court. 

THE COURT: Right. Right. I mean, so he has a case 

pending that was transferred, but that hasn’t been— 

[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Resolved in any way, no. 

THE COURT: —resolved yet. Okay. All right. So we’ll 

have to refer him to our Clinic here at the Court for a full 

psychological. 

[ASSISTANT PROSECUTOR]: Your Honor, I believe 

we’ve had some preliminary discussions about waiving the 

amenability. It has already been found. I don’t even know that we 

need to waive amenability. 

[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: If we could approach, your 

Honor. 

THE COURT: Yes. Okay. 

* * * 
January Term, 2012 

3

(Discussion held off of the record.) 

* * * 

THE COURT: Okay. All right. Because this Court has 

already found this alleged delinquent to be not amenable to the 

juvenile justice system on a prior case in which the Court 

transferred jurisdiction to the adult court, the Court in this case 

then will, based on this probable cause finding will then—we will 

transfer this case over to the adult court, as well, without having 

another amenability hearing. And so we will not refer him to the 

Court Clinic at this time. 

{¶ 4} D.W. was subsequently bound over to the common pleas court and 

indicted by the Cuyahoga County Grand Jury on one count each of burglary, theft, 

vandalism, and criminal damaging and two counts of bribery. A jury acquitted 

him of bribery, but found him guilty of the other charges. He was sentenced to 

six years in prison and mandatory postrelease control. 

{¶ 5} The Eighth District Court of Appeals affirmed the decision. State 

v. D.W., 8th Dist. No. 95750, 2011-Ohio-4096. In doing so, it concluded that “the 

juvenile court first held a probable cause hearing but then never held an 

amenability hearing.” Id. at ¶ 30. Without elaboration, the appellate court then 

held that although the juvenile court did not conduct the amenability hearing, 

D.W., “through his counsel, waived the amenability hearing.” Id. It concluded 

that the juvenile court did not abuse its discretion in transferring the case to the 

common pleas court. Id. 

{¶ 6} D.W. appealed, and we accepted the cause as a discretionary 

appeal. State v. D.W., 130 Ohio St.3d 1493, 2011-Ohio-6556, 958 N.E.2d 956. 

Two propositions of law are before us: 
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(1) The R.C. 2152.12(B)(3) amenability hearing cannot be 

waived. 

(2) Waiver of the R.C. 2152.12(B)(3) amenability hearing 

before the juvenile court is not valid unless it is expressly stated on 

the record by the juvenile through his or her counsel, and the trial 

court must determine through a colloquy with the juvenile that the 

waiver is voluntarily, knowingly, and intelligently made. 

ANALYSIS 

A. A juvenile has a right to an amenability hearing to determine if 

the juvenile can remain within the juvenile justice system or 

be bound over to adult court, and pursuant to Juv.R. 3,1

the juvenile may waive the right to the amenability hearing 

1. The Juvenile Court Milieu 

{¶ 7} More than 40 years ago, the court recognized that juvenile courts 

are “rooted in social welfare philosophy rather than in the corpus juris.” Kent v. 

United States, 383 U.S. 541, 554, 86 S.Ct. 1045, 16 L.Ed.2d 84 (1966). “The 

juvenile courts were premised on profoundly different assumptions and goals than 

a criminal court, United States v. Johnson (C.A.D.C.1994), 28 F.3d 151, 157 

(Wald, J., dissenting), and eschewed traditional, objective criminal standards and 

retributive notions of justice.” In re C.S., 115 Ohio St.3d 267, 274, 2007-Ohio4919, 874 N.E.2d 1177, ¶ 66. The objectives of the juvenile court “are to provide 

measures of guidance and rehabilitation for the child and protection for society, 

not to fix criminal responsibility, guilt and punishment.” Kent at 554. 

 

1. Juv.R. 3 was amended on July 1, 2012, 132 Ohio St.3d lxx. Because D.W.’s probablecause hearing took place in 2010, our references to this rule are to the former version, 69 Ohio 

St.3d CXLVII, unless otherwise noted. As it pertains to D.W.’s issue before us, Juv.R. 3 has not 

changed. 
January Term, 2012 

5

{¶ 8} The United States Supreme Court recently reiterated that juveniles 

have “diminished culpability” and are therefore “ ‘less deserving of the most 

severe punishments.’ ” Miller v. Alabama, __ U.S.__, 132 S.Ct. 2455, 2464, 183 

L.Ed.2d 407 (2012), quoting Graham v. Florida, __ U.S.__, 130 S.Ct. 2011, 

2026, 176 L.Ed.2d 825 (2010). Because of juveniles’ “ ‘lack of maturity and an 

underdeveloped sense of responsibility,’ ” they “are more * * * susceptible to 

negative influences and outside pressures, including peer pressure,” and their 

characters are “not as well formed.” Roper v. Simmons, 543 U.S. 551, 569-570, 

125 S.Ct. 1183, 161 L.Ed.2d 1 (2005), quoting Johnson v. Texas, 509 U.S. 350, 

367, 113 S.Ct. 2658, 125 L.Ed.2d 290 (1993). Accordingly, the actions of 

juveniles are less likely to be evidence of “irretrievably depraved character” than 

are the actions of adults. Id. at 570. “From a moral standpoint it would be 

misguided to equate the failings of a minor with those of an adult, for a greater 

possibility exists that a minor’s character deficiencies will be reformed.” Id. See 

also Miller, __ U.S.__, 132 S.Ct. 2455, 2464-2465, 183 L.Ed.2d 407, and fn. 5. 

{¶ 9} But in response to a rise in rates and severity of juvenile crime and 

the belief that not all juveniles can be rehabilitated, in 1969, the General 

Assembly enacted a statutory scheme that provides for some juveniles to be 

removed from the juvenile courts’ authority. One such provision, R.C. 2152.12, 

formerly R.C. 2151.26, Am.Sub.H.B. No. 320, 133 Ohio Laws, Part III, 2040, 

2049-2050, is at issue in this appeal. That statute allows juvenile courts to 

transfer certain juveniles to adult court to face criminal sanctions. 

{¶ 10} “Two types of transfer exist under Ohio’s juvenile justice system: 

discretionary and mandatory.” State v. Hanning, 89 Ohio St.3d 86, 728 N.E.2d 

1059 (2000). “Mandatory transfer removes discretion from judges in the transfer 

decision in certain situations.” Id., see R.C. 2152.12(A). “Discretionary transfer, 

as its name implies, allows judges the discretion to transfer or bind over to adult 

court certain juveniles who do not appear to be amenable to care or rehabilitation 
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within the juvenile system or appear to be a threat to public safety.” Id.; see R.C. 

2152.12(B). 

{¶ 11} In instances of discretionary transfer, as in this case, 

the juvenile court is also to determine the age of the child 

and whether probable cause exists to believe that the juvenile 

committed the act charged. R.C. 2152.10(B) and 2152.12(B)(1) 

and (2). However, if probable cause exists and the child is eligible 

by age, the juvenile court must then continue the proceeding for a 

full investigation. R.C. 2152.12(C) and Juv.R. 30(C). This 

investigation includes a mental examination of the child, a hearing 

to determine whether the child is “amenable to care or 

rehabilitation within the juvenile system” or whether “the safety of 

the community may require that the child be subject to adult 

sanctions,” and the consideration of 17 other statutory criteria to 

determine whether a transfer is appropriate. Juv.R. 30(C); R.C. 

2152.12(B), (C), (D), and (E). 

In re M.P., 124 Ohio St.3d 445, 2010-Ohio-599, 923 N.E.2d 584, ¶ 12. 

{¶ 12} An amenability hearing helps determine whether a juvenile who is 

eligible for discretionary bindover will be transferred to adult court. A critical 

stage of the juvenile proceedings, the hearing affects whether the juvenile faces a 

delinquency adjudication, or adult criminal sanctions and the label “felon.” Kent, 

383 U.S. at 560, 86 S.Ct. 1045, 16 L.Ed.2d 84. Given the nature and 

consequences of the amenability hearing, juvenile court judges are entrusted with 

significant authority when conducting the hearings. 

{¶ 13} The role of parens patriae is not the juvenile court’s sole focus 

during an amenability hearing. Procedural protections are vital. 
January Term, 2012 

7

{¶ 14} “The State is parens patriae * * * [b]ut the admonition to function 

in a ‘parental’ relationship is not an invitation to procedural arbitrariness.” Id. at 

554-555. In Kent, the Supreme Court decided whether a juvenile court properly 

waived jurisdiction over a juvenile before transferring him to criminal court. Id. 

at 552. Before the transfer, the juvenile court judge did not hold a hearing and did 

not confer with the juvenile, his counsel, or his parents. Id. at 546. The United 

States Supreme Court held that “as a condition to a valid waiver order, [the 

juvenile] was entitled to a hearing, including access by his counsel to the social 

records and probation or similar reports which presumably are considered by the 

court, and to a statement of reasons for the Juvenile Court’s decision” before 

being transferred to the adult court for criminal prosecution. Id. at 557. It insisted 

that the hearing “must measure up to the essentials of due process and fair 

treatment,” id. at 562, including “constitutional principles relating to due process 

and the assistance of counsel,” id. at 557. 

{¶ 15} Ten years later, in In re Gault, 387 U.S. 1, 87 S.Ct. 1428, 18 

L.Ed.2d 527 (1967), the United States Supreme Court again confirmed that a 

juvenile court must recognize a juvenile’s due process rights. Gault held that 

“neither the Fourteenth Amendment nor the Bill of Rights is for adults alone.” Id. 

at 13. That decision led the states, including Ohio, to look at the process they 

used to adjudicate juveniles. 

In the wake of Gault and its progeny, we also found that 

“numerous constitutional safeguards normally reserved for 

criminal prosecutions are equally applicable to juvenile 

delinquency proceedings,” State v. Walls, 96 Ohio St.3d 437, 

2002-Ohio-5059, 775 N.E.2d 829, ¶ 26, and overruled prior 

decisions that held to the contrary, see In re Agler, 19 Ohio St.2d 

[70,] at 76, 48 O.O.2d 85, 249 N.E.2d 808 [(1969)]. 
SUPREME COURT OF OHIO

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In re C.S., 115 Ohio St.3d, 267, 2007-Ohio-4919, 874 N.E.2d 1177, ¶ 73. 

{¶ 16} One such constitutional safeguard that has been extensively 

developed through our jurisprudence has been a juvenile’s right to counsel. See 

id., paragraph two of the syllabus (a juvenile may waive the right to counsel); In 

re Williams, 101 Ohio St.3d 398, 2004-Ohio-1500, 805 N.E.2d 1110, syllabus (a 

juvenile who is the subject of a parental-rights termination has a statutory right to 

counsel. 

{¶ 17} Today, we analyze another vital safeguard: the juvenile’s right to 

an amenability hearing before being transferred from juvenile court to adult court. 

2. The Relevant Statutory Scheme 

{¶ 18} The General Assembly codified the right to an amenability hearing 

in discretionary bindovers in R.C. 2152.12(B). That statute provides, 

Except as provided in division (A) of this section, after a 

complaint has been filed alleging that a child is a delinquent child 

for committing an act that would be a felony if committed by an 

adult, the juvenile court at a hearing may transfer the case if the 

court finds all of the following: 

(1) The child was fourteen years of age or older at the time 

of the act charged. 

(2) There is probable cause to believe that the child 

committed the act charged. 

(3) The child is not amenable to care or rehabilitation 

within the juvenile system, and the safety of the community may 

require that the child be subject to adult sanctions. In making its 

decision under this division, the court shall consider whether the 

applicable factors under division (D) of this section indicating that 
January Term, 2012 

9

the case should be transferred outweigh the applicable factors 

under division (E) of this section indicating that the case should 

not be transferred. The record shall indicate the specific factors 

that were applicable and that the court weighed. 

(Emphasis added.) 

{¶ 19} The right to a hearing is also set forth in our rules of procedure for 

the juvenile courts. Pursuant to Juv.R. 30, 

(A) Preliminary hearing. 

In any proceeding where the court considers the transfer of 

a case for criminal prosecution, the court shall hold a preliminary 

hearing to determine if there is probable cause to believe that the 

child committed the act alleged and that the act would be an 

offense if committed by an adult. The hearing may be upon motion 

of the court, the prosecuting attorney, or the child. 

* * * 

(C) Discretionary transfer. 

In any proceeding in which transfer of a case for criminal 

prosecution is permitted, but not required, by statute, and in which 

probable cause is found at the preliminary hearing, the court shall 

continue the proceeding for full investigation. The investigation 

shall include a mental examination of the child by a public or 

private agency or by a person qualified to make the examination. 

When the investigation is completed, an amenability hearing shall 

be held to determine whether to transfer jurisdiction. The criteria 

for transfer shall be as provided by statute. 
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(Emphasis added.) 

{¶ 20} The safeguard of a hearing is contained in the Revised Code and 

Rules of Juvenile Procedure, and it is grounded in due process and other 

constitutional protections. As the United States Supreme Court makes clear, 

“there is no place in our system of law for reaching a result [the transfer of a 

juvenile to adult court] of such tremendous consequences, without ceremony—

without hearing, without effective assistance of counsel, without a statement of 

reasons.” Kent, 383 U.S. at 554, 86 S.Ct. 1045, 16 L.Ed.2d 84. 

{¶ 21} D.W. argues that by using “shall,” R.C. 2152.12(B)(3) and Juv.R. 

30 require the juvenile court to perform an amenability hearing before 

determining whether to transfer a juvenile from the juvenile court system to the 

adult criminal system. We agree. We have no doubt that a juvenile’s right to an 

amenability hearing, like a juvenile’s right to counsel, is compelled by federal due 

process protections, Kent at 557, our statutory framework, R.C. 2152.12(B), and 

our rules, Juv.R. 30. But in so holding, we also make clear that contrary to 

D.W.’s assertions, the amenability hearing can be waived under Juv.R. 3. 

{¶ 22} D.W. contends that because Juv.R. 3 deals with the rights of the 

child, but R.C. 2152.12 and Juv.R. 30 deal with the juvenile court’s duty to act as 

parens patriae, the statute and the rule impose a duty upon the juvenile court that 

cannot be waived by the juvenile. 

{¶ 23} Juv.R. 3 states that although a juvenile may not waive his right to 

be represented by counsel at a Juv.R. 30 hearing, “[o]ther rights of a child may be 

waived with permission of the court.” But the rule does not identify those “other 

rights.” We must therefore determine whether “other rights” include the right to 

an amenability hearing. 

{¶ 24} Even though “[t]here is a presumption against the waiver of 

constitutional rights,” an individual can still waive his constitutional rights as long 

as the waiver is made knowingly and intelligently and is an intentional 
January Term, 2012 

11

relinquishment of a known right. Brookhart v. Janis, 384 U.S. 1, 4, 86 S.Ct. 

1245, 16 L.Ed.2d 314 (1966). We hold similarly. See, e.g., In re C.S., 115 Ohio 

St.3d 267, 2007-Ohio-4919, 874 N.E.2d 1177, ¶ 95, citing In re Gault, 387 U.S. 

at 41-42, 87 S.Ct. 1428, 18 L.Ed.2d 527 (a “juvenile may waive his rights”). 

{¶ 25} It is important to note that pursuant to Juv.R. 3, juveniles may 

waive their “other rights,” but only “with the permission of the court.” The 

quoted language reflects the notion that the juvenile court must not abandon its 

roles as parens patriae and protector of the due process rights of the juvenile. 

Thus, the court must ensure that the juvenile’s waiver of the right to an 

amenability hearing is made knowingly, intelligently, and intentionally and that it 

is a voluntary relinquishment of a known right. By constructing the rule in this 

manner, we reconcile, as we must, the parens patriae duty of the juvenile court 

with the due process rights and autonomy of the juvenile. 

{¶ 26} We therefore hold that one of the “other rights” that may be 

waived under Juv.R. 3 is the right to an amenability hearing. 

{¶ 27} We now turn to the manner in which any waiver of the amenability 

hearing must take place and the standards that juvenile judges should follow in 

determining whether the waiver is proper. 

B. For a juvenile to properly waive the right to an amenability hearing, the 

waiver must be expressly stated on the record by the juvenile, through counsel, 

and the juvenile court must determine, through colloquy with the juvenile, 

that the waiver is made voluntarily, knowingly, and intelligently 

{¶ 28} Waiver is often presented in the context of right to counsel. In In 

re C.S., 115 Ohio St.3d 267, 2007-Ohio-4919, 874 N.E.2d 1177, we set forth the 

requirements for a valid waiver of right to counsel, which have been incorporated 

into the new Juv.R. 3. We conclude that the same reasoning applies here and 

adopt a standard similar to that for waiver of the right to counsel for the waiver of 

the right to an amenability hearing. 
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{¶ 29} In In re C.S., we held: 

An effective waiver of the right to counsel by a juvenile 

must be voluntary, knowing, and intelligent. State v. Gibson 

(1976), 45 Ohio St.2d 366, 74 O.O.2d 525, 345 N.E.2d 399, 

paragraph one of the syllabus. In a juvenile court proceeding in 

which the judge acts as parens patriae, the judge must scrupulously 

ensure that the juvenile fully understands, and intentionally and 

intelligently relinquishes, the right to counsel. Id. at paragraph two 

of the syllabus; * * * In re Manuel R., 207 Conn. [725,] 737-738, 

543 A.2d 719 [(1988)] (“It is now commonly recognized that 

courts should take ‘special care’ in scrutinizing a purported 

confession or waiver by a child”), citing Haley [v. Ohio], 332 U.S. 

[596,] 599, 68 S.Ct. 302, 92 L.Ed. 224 [(1948)]. 

In the discharge of that duty, the judge is to engage in a 

meaningful dialogue with the juvenile. Instead of relying solely on 

a prescribed formula or script for engaging a juvenile during the 

consideration of the waiver, see Iowa v. Tovar (2004), 541 U.S. 77, 

88, 124 S.Ct. 1379, 158 L.Ed.2d 209, the inquisitional approach is 

more consistent with the juvenile courts’ goals, and is best suited 

to address the myriad factual scenarios that a juvenile judge may 

face in addressing the question of waiver. 

Id. at ¶ 106-107. 

{¶ 30} The holding in In re C.S. was incorporated into the new Juv.R. 3, 

which also addresses a juvenile’s right to waive counsel. 

{¶ 31} Juv.R. 3(D) now sets forth specific criteria that must be followed 

in order for the waiver to be valid: 
January Term, 2012 

13

 Any waiver of the right to counsel shall be made in open 

court, recorded, and in writing. In determining whether a child has 

knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily waived the right to 

counsel, the court shall look to the totality of the circumstances 

including, but not limited to: the child’s age; intelligence; 

education; background and experience generally and in the court 

system specifically; the child’s emotional stability; and the 

complexity of the proceedings. The Court shall ensure that a child 

consults with a parent, custodian, guardian, or guardian ad litem, 

before any waiver of counsel. However, no parent, guardian, 

custodian, or other person may waive the child’s right to counsel. 

{¶ 32} Because the same underlying principles that we addressed 

regarding the nature of juvenile courts in the context of a juvenile’s waiver of his 

right to counsel are present in our analysis of a juvenile’s waiver of an 

amenability hearing, we conclude that the holding in In re C.S. and the language 

of Juv.R. 3 are persuasive and applicable to the standard that we adopt today. 

{¶ 33} Cognizant of the parens patriae duty of the juvenile court, the due 

process rights of the juvenile, the General Assembly’s expression of public policy 

in R.C. 2152.12, Juv.R. 3 and 30, and precedent, see, e.g., Kent and In re C.S., we 

hold that in situations in which a juvenile is subject to discretionary transfer and 

the juvenile wishes to waive the right to an amenability hearing, the juvenile court 

must engage in a two-step process to determine the validity of the waiver. 

{¶ 34} First, before being transferred, the juvenile may waive the right to 

an amenability hearing only if the waiver is expressly stated on the record and 

through counsel. 
SUPREME COURT OF OHIO

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{¶ 35} The requirement that the juvenile expressly state on the record that 

he or she is waiving the right to an amenability hearing demonstrates that the 

waiver is an “ ‘ “intentional relinquishment or abandonment of a known right.” ’ ” 

State v. Foster, 109 Ohio St.3d 1, 2006-Ohio-856, 845 N.E.2d 470, ¶ 31, quoting 

United States v. Olano, 507 U.S. 725, 733, 113 S.Ct. 1770, 123 L.Ed.2d 508 

(1993), quoting Johnson v. Zerbst, 304 U.S. 458, 464, 58 S.Ct. 1019, 82 L.Ed. 

1461 (1938). The requirement that the juvenile requests the waiver on the record 

also allows the juvenile court to fulfill its duty to protect the due process rights of 

the juvenile. 

{¶ 36} Moreover, the child’s right to counsel is required by Juv.R. 3, 

which provides that a child may not waive the right to be represented by counsel 

at a transfer hearing conducted pursuant to Juv.R. 30. By requiring counsel to 

enter the request, there can be no question that the child was represented as 

required and no question that the juvenile has received “the assistance of counsel 

to cope with problems of law.” Gault, 387 U.S. at 36, 87 S.Ct. 1428, 18 L.Ed.2d 

527. 

{¶ 37} Second, the juvenile court must determine that the waiver is 

offered knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently. Proper determination must 

include a colloquy with the juvenile and must occur on the record. The colloquy 

allows the juvenile court to fulfill its parens patriae duty by ensuring that the 

juvenile fully understands and intentionally and intelligently relinquishes the right 

to an amenability hearing. And it allows the judge “to engage in a meaningful 

dialogue with the juvenile,” In re C.S., 115 Ohio St.3d 267, 2007-Ohio-4919, 874 

N.E.2d 1177, ¶ 107, to guarantee that the juvenile’s due process rights are 

protected. 

{¶ 38} Additionally, by requiring the court to determine that the waiver is 

made knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently, we comport with the plain 
January Term, 2012 

15

language of Juv.R. 3, which states that rights of a child may be waived “with the 

permission of the court.” 

{¶ 39} Finally, requiring that a meaningful colloquy between the juvenile 

court and the juvenile occur on the record provides an additional due process 

safeguard to protect the juvenile. It also is consistent with the language of R.C. 

2152.12(B)(3), which states, “The record shall indicate the specific factors that 

were applicable and that the court weighed” when deciding whether a child is 

amenable to rehabilitation. 

{¶ 40} In fact, this case illustrates the problems that arise when waivers 

are not clearly set forth on the record. There is no evidence in the record to 

support a finding that D.W., either himself or through his counsel, waived his 

right to an amenability hearing. The record lacks any meaningful discussion 

about the amenability hearing. Absent an express statement on the record by 

either D.W. or his counsel requesting waiver of his right to an amenability 

hearing, we will not hold that D.W. waived this right.2

{¶ 41} We recognize that the state argues that the amenability hearing was 

properly waived and that the court of appeals agreed. However, based upon the 

record before us, there is no indication of a proper waiver. 

 

 

2. We recognize the state’s argument that D.W.’s failure to object to the juvenile court’s 

decision not to conduct an amenability hearing acts as a forfeiture and that he waives all but plain 

error. We are not persuaded. 

Initially, we observe that the state did not raise the issue of waiver to the court of appeals 

in response to D.W.’s appeal. It cannot present that claim here in the first instance. See, e.g., 

State v. Chinn, 85 Ohio St.3d 548, 565, 709 N.E.2d 1166 (1999) (party who failed to raise an issue 

to the court of appeals waived his arguments); see also State v. Scudder, 71 Ohio St.3d 263, 268, 

643 N.E.2d 524 (1994). 

Second, although the record in this case does not contain any objection by the defense to 

the failure of the juvenile court to conduct an amenability hearing, and we will not presume that 

any objection was made, we hold that D.W. timely raised this issue on appeal. See State v. 

Douglas, 20 Ohio St.3d 34, 35, 485 N.E.2d 711 (1985) (juvenile who was transferred to adult 

court, pled guilty to charges, and was subsequently convicted appealed convictions alleging that 

the bindover proceeding was not proper). 
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C. Application 

{¶ 42} The two-step process we set forth today effectively balances the 

parens patriae duty of the juvenile court with the juvenile’s due process rights 

while comporting with the plain language of R.C. 2152.12, Juv.R. 3 and 30, and 

our jurisprudence. We turn now to its application here. 

{¶ 43} At the outset, we address the state’s argument on implied waiver. 

An implied waiver runs counter to the very idea of our definition of waiver: an 

“intentional relinquishment or abandonment of a known right.” State v. Foster, 

109 Ohio St.3d 1, 2006-Ohio-856, 845 N.E.2d 470, ¶ 31, quoting Johnson, 304 

U.S. at 464, 58 S.Ct. 1019, 82 L.Ed. 1461. The record is devoid of any evidence 

that D.W. or his counsel intentionally relinquished or abandoned his right to an 

amenability hearing. There is no evidence that the juvenile knew he had a right to 

an amenability hearing. The judge failed to recognize a need for further inquiry of 

the juvenile as to whether he knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily dispensed 

with an amenability hearing. 

{¶ 44} Based on the language in the record, the juvenile court found that 

an amenability hearing was not required, because he had found probable cause, 

and D.W. had been bound over in a prior case. The state argues that it is 

impractical to prevent a juvenile from waiving an amenability hearing after he has 

already been found not to be amenable to the juvenile justice system. Again, we 

must disagree. 

{¶ 45} Each case presented to the juvenile court must be assessed upon its 

own merits. In State v. Adams, 69 Ohio St.2d 120, 431 N.E.2d 326 (1982), this 

court held that once a juvenile is bound over, the juvenile is bound over for all 

future felonies. Id., syllabus. However, the General Assembly expressly 

overruled this holding as acknowledged in the legislative notes to R.C. 2151.011: 
January Term, 2012 

17

The General Assembly hereby declares that its purpose in 

enacting the language in division (B) of section 2151.011 and 

divisions (B) and (C) of section 2151.26 of the Revised Code that 

exists on and after the effective date of this act is to overrule the 

holding in State v. Adams (1982), 69 Ohio St.2d 120 [431 N.E.2d 

326], regarding the effect of binding a child over for trial as an 

adult. 

(Emphasis added.) Am.Sub.H.B. No. 1, Section 3(B), 146 Ohio Laws, Part I, 1, 

96. 

{¶ 46} In other words, in the wake of Adams, the General Assembly 

prohibited juvenile courts from holding that once a juvenile has been bound over 

to adult court, the juvenile will be bound over in all future felonies. We must 

respect the right of the General Assembly to limit our holdings as long as the 

constitution permits it do so. Here, the legislature acted within its role, and we 

must give effect to legislative intent and ensure that our juvenile courts do so as 

well. State v. Elam, 68 Ohio St.3d 585, 587, 629 N.E.2d 442 (1994). According 

to statute then, a juvenile court cannot bind over a juvenile on the sole basis that 

the juvenile has been previously bound over. 

CONCLUSION 

{¶ 47} We hold that an amenability hearing under R.C. 2152.12(B)(3) 

may be waived provided (1) the juvenile, through counsel, expressly states on the 

record a waiver of the amenability hearing and (2) the juvenile court engages in a 

colloquy on the record with the juvenile to determine that the waiver was made 

knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently. 

{¶ 48} Here, the juvenile court failed to conduct an amenability hearing 

before transferring D.W. to adult court, based upon the mistaken belief that a prior 

bindover of the juvenile negated the need for an amenability hearing. The court 
SUPREME COURT OF OHIO

18

thus never asked the juvenile whether he was waiving the hearing. Accordingly, 

we reverse the judgment of the court of appeals and remand the cause to the 

juvenile court for an amenability hearing, or proper waiver of it, consistent with 

this opinion. 

Judgment reversed 

and cause remanded. 

PFEIFER, LUNDBERG STRATTON, LANZINGER, CUPP, and MCGEE BROWN, 

JJ., concur. 

O’DONNELL, J., concurs in judgment only. 

__________________ 

Timothy McGinty, Acting Cuyahoga County Prosecuting Attorney, and 

Daniel T. Van and Katherine Mullin, Assistant Prosecuting Attorneys, for 

appellee. 

Robert L. Tobik, Cuyahoga County Public Defender, and Nathaniel J. 

McDonald, Assistant Public Defender, for appellant. 

Timothy Young, Ohio Public Defender, and Jill Beeler, Assistant Public 

Defender, urging reversal for amicus curiae, Ohio Public Defender. 

______________________