Opinion ID: 1762007
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Waiver of jury.

Text: There is no question that the waiver, if valid, was voluntarily and knowingly made. The trial court questioned both the defendants and counsel, was careful the defendants understood what they were doing, and had each of them sign a jury waiver which was approved in accordance with sec. 957.01 (1), Stats. [1] This procedure was recommended in State ex rel. Derber v. Skaff (1964), 22 Wis. 2d 269, 274, 125 N. W. 2d 561. The precise issue is whether the defendants can waive a jury at this late point in a trial and have the court make the finding of guilt or innocence. It is argued by the defendants sec. 957.01 (1), Stats., plainly requires the waiver precede the commencement of a trial to a jury and the whole jury trial must be waived, not merely a part of it. It is argued that all the defendants did was to waive the right to continue the jury trial and they could not waive what they already received. This is not a proper interpretation of the statute. Of course, a jury trial is an examination of the issues between the parties, sec. 270.06, Stats., and this process commences at the time of the opening arguments to the jury, Strong v. State (1967), 36 Wis. 2d 324, 327, 152 N. W. 2d 890; but a waiver made part way through a jury trial is retroactive in effect to the commencement of the trial. It cannot be said the jury heard part of the case and the court heard part of the case if the finding of guilt or innocence is made by the court after a waiver. The judge heard the evidence as well as the jury. It sounded no different to him as a judge than if he were also the trier of the fact when he heard part of it. A waiver during trial does not mean the judge hears only part of the case. He has heard all the evidence at the trial. If a judge believes he cannot recollect the testimony or did not make notes to help him or for any reason he cannot function as the trier of the facts he needs only to refuse to accept the offer to waive the jury. It is argued that sec. 957.01 (1), Stats., permits only a waiver prior to the commencement of the jury trial by analogy to sec. 957.01 (2), wherein it specifically provides for a reduction in the number of jurors at any time before verdict. Although sec. 957.01 (1) does not expressly provide for a waiver at any time before verdict, there is no compelling policy reason why the statute should not be so construed. We are unconvinced the history of the section or analogy to sec. 957.01 (2) or the language of the section requires the strict and technical construction urged by the defendants. This court would be hard pressed to say a plea of guilty could not be entertained during a jury trial, [2] yet the acceptance of a plea of guilty would waive a jury trial even though some portion of the evidence was heard by the jury. It is true, the analogy is not perfect because on a plea of guilty the plea itself furnishes the basis for the finding of conviction rather than the evidence. Nonetheless, that which is waived, the jury determination, is the same in both instances. A waiver of a jury partly through a trial is in effect an agreement the court can make the finding. The rarity of such a waiver does not necessarily make it invalid.