Opinion ID: 4540545
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Haggard’s jury-trial waiver was ineffective.

Text: The district court determined that Haggard’s written waiver and his failure to include the arraignment transcript supported finding that the jury-trial waiver was effective. Haggard argues that his signature on the Pretrial Stipulation Form is insufficient to show that his waiver was knowing, voluntary, and intelligent. He also argues that the magistrate court’s failure to personally inquire of him, in open court, means his waiver was ineffective. In response, the State argues that Haggard’s written waiver is proof, or at least creates a presumption, that his waiver was knowing, voluntary, and intelligent. The State also argues that this Court’s case law regarding jury-trial waiver has not been extended to misdemeanors and that this Court’s decision in State v. Vasquez, 163 Idaho 557, 416 P.3d 108 (2018) does not compel a finding of fundamental error. Article I, section 7 of the Idaho Constitution provides a jury-trial right for all criminal offenses—felony or misdemeanor—with the exception of infractions. See State v. Bennion, 112 Idaho 32, 45, 730 P.2d 952, 965 (1986). In most instances, the Idaho Constitution’s jury-trial protections hinge on whether the accused faces incarceration. Id. at 44, 730 P.2d at 964. Haggard was charged with misdemeanor domestic battery in the presence of a child in violation of Idaho Code section 18-918(3)(b). A defendant’s first conviction under this subsection is subject to a maximum possible sentence of $1,000 and six months of incarceration, or both. I.C. § 18-918(3)(c). However, a defendant charged with domestic battery in the presence of the child faces double the statutory penalties under Idaho Code section 18-918(4). Because Haggard’s charge carried the possibility of incarceration, it triggered the jury-trial right under Article I, section 7. When a defendant waives the right to trial by jury and its associated protections, the trial court is required to abide by certain procedural guidelines. The Idaho Constitution explains how one may waive the right to a jury trial: The right of trial by jury shall remain inviolate; . . . . A trial by jury may be waived in all criminal cases, by the consent of all parties, expressed in open court, . . . signified in such manner as may be prescribed by law. . . . Idaho Const. art. I, § 7 (emphasis added). This section provides that a jury-trial waiver must be (1) expressed in open court and (2) consented to by all parties. Id. How a waiver 5 can be “signified in such manner as may be prescribed by law” is answered by both statute and court rule. See Van Vranken v. Fence-Craft, 91 Idaho 742, 745, 430 P.2d 488, 491 (1967) (“The waiver of [the right to jury trial] cannot be made or enforced unless it appears to have been made in conformity with existing statute or rule, and not by implication.”). Though neither party cites to the applicable statutes, Idaho has two statutory provisions that address waiver of the right to trial by jury: Idaho Code sections 19-1902 1 and 19-3911 2. In addition, this Court promulgated Idaho Criminal Rule 23 to govern how the right to a jury trial may be waived: (a) Felony Cases. In felony cases issues of fact must be tried by a jury, unless, in open court, a trial by jury is waived in writing by the defendant and the consent of the prosecutor is expressed and entered in the minutes. (b) Misdemeanor Cases. In criminal cases not amounting to a felony, issues of fact must be tried by a jury, unless a trial by jury is waived by the consent of both parties expressed in open court and entered in the minutes.