Opinion ID: 3066024
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Waiver of Indictment

Text: A defendant must knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily waive his right to an indictment. Ferguson, 758 F.2d at 850–51. Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 7(b) allows a defendant to waive his right to an indictment and be charged by information if the defendant waives the right “in open court and after being advised of the nature of the charge and of [his] rights.” FED . R. CRIM . P. 7(b). UNITED STATES V . PRESTON 19 Preston’s waiver complied with Rule 7(b). Preston waived his right in open court after the district judge ascertained Preston’s understanding of the consequences, and Preston’s lawyer confirmed that Preston understood the waiver. The judge explained to Preston the difference between an indictment and an information, including the role of the grand jury in an indictment and the consequences of waiving his right to a grand jury indictment. The judge also asked Preston’s attorney whether he had reservations about Preston’s understanding of his waiver, and the attorney stated, “I have no such reservations, judge.” Preston’s attorney had consulted with two mental health professionals, both of whom confirmed that while Preston may have been slow to understand the concepts involved in the court proceedings, he was capable of understanding them, and the attorney spent several hours with Preston explaining to him the concept and consequences of his waiver. Preston also argues that his waiver in exchange for a lesser sentence constituted coercion. There is, however, no basis in law or fact for this argument. Preston knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily waived his right to an indictment.