Opinion ID: 1135639
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: sufficiency of waiver

Text: The second certified question presents, perhaps, the more difficult question of the sufficiency of a defendant's waiver and the trial court's proper role in ensuring that the defendant's constitutional rights are honored. The cases discussed above involving waiver have required safeguards commensurate with the nature and extent of the rights in question and the circumstances under which the waiver is alleged to have occurred. The cases have mandated extensive safeguards in the entry of pleas in criminal cases where numerous rights are implicated, while imposing less stringent requirements in other situations, including allowing attorneys to act for their clients in some instances. Again, we look to Patton for the proper analysis and conclude that a full-blown colloquy such as that provided in accepting a guilty plea is not absolutely necessary. Rather, we find the colloquy at issue here, including a personal on-the-record waiver, sufficient to pass muster under the federal and state constitutions. Initially, it is important to reiterate that we are not confronted with a situation involving the complete waiver of a trial by jury. Blair's case was tried by a jury, albeit one reduced in size from six to five. Further, in accepting Blair's decision, we agree with the district court's conclusion that the trial court observed the standards enunciated in Patton by exercising sound and advised discretion in sanctioning the waiver after consultations with counsel and the defendant, ensuring the State agreed to the waiver, and confirming the express and intelligent consent of the defendant. 281 U.S. at 312, 50 S.Ct. at 263. As in Patton, the record reflects that the trial judge ensured that Blair was apprised of the alternative courses of action available to him and had enough time to make a considered decision, and confirmed that this was the option Blair wished to elect. Blair made his decision toward the end of his trial, after having ample time to analyze the jury and assess the prosecution's case against him. He affirmatively chose to proceed with a reduced jury as opposed to a continuance or starting with another jury. [11] We also agree with the district court that there was no constitutional infirmity in having defense counsel advise Blair of his rights so long as the trial court confirm[ed] the voluntary and intelligent nature of the waiver and ensure[d] that [Blair was] fully aware of the alternatives to proceeding with five jurors. Blair, 667 So.2d at 840. Moreover, the district court majority correctly noted that the trial judge ensured that defense counsel had enough time to talk to Blair. Id. at 839. Thereafter, Blair directly communicated with the court, stating, Your Honor, we will take the five, if that's all right with you. Id. at 837. We concur with the majority's conclusion that the waiver was valid since there was nothing unequivocal [sic], [12] , id. at 839, about Blair's choice to take the five jurors, especially after the judge had defense counsel repeat in open court what he had said to Blair privately. See United States v. Page, 661 F.2d 1080, 1083 (5th Cir.1981), cert. denied, 455 U.S. 1018, 102 S.Ct. 1713, 72 L.Ed.2d 136 (1982) (affirming trial court's acceptance of defense counsel's assurances that defendant wished to waive jury trial after lengthy consultation); United States v. Agee, 83 F.3d 882, 886 n. 5 (7th Cir.1996) (explaining when there is a direct and specific discussion between defense counsel and the trial court regarding the waiver, the court can make the inquiries necessary to be confident that the defendant understood the right he or she was waiving and willingly relinquished it). Thus, while the colloquy may not have been a perfect example of a knowing, intelligent, and voluntary waiver of a constitutional right, we conclude that Blair's personal on-the-record waiver, after consultation with counsel, provided a sufficient procedural safeguard to affirmatively show that Blair understood his rights and the options available to him. The majority below also noted our reasoning in Tucker and State v. Griffith, 561 So.2d 528, 531 n. 5 (Fla.1990) (finding that although defendant's waiver of a twelve-person jury in favor of a six-person jury was valid and did not require court's affirmative inquiry, it is a better procedure for the trial court to make an inquiry of the defendant and to have the waiver appear on the record), agreeing that it would be preferable for the trial court to affirmatively advise defendant that he has a right to a six-member jury and that the trial court could not leave the full explanation of that right and the consequences of waiving that right solely to defense counsel. Blair, 667 So.2d at 840. Similarly, we note that while the trial judge did not question Blair directly as the judge did in Tucker, and the discussion was not as extensive as it could have been, Blair was present throughout the proceedings and ultimately told the judge personally and directly that he wished to proceed with five jurors. Further, with the concurrence of the trial court and the State, Blair exercised his right to have [a] trial completed by a particular tribunal, Thomason v. State, 620 So.2d 1234, 1237 (Fla.1993), and we are reluctant to interfere with that choice absent some misapplication of the law, constitutional violation, or fundamental error. Our decision in Thomason addressed the impropriety of the trial court's declaration of a mistrial over the objections of both the defendant and the State. 620 So.2d at 1235. In finding that absent circumstances thwarting the State's one full and fair opportunity to present its case, the right of a defendant to completion of his or her trial by a particular tribunal should control, id. at 1237, we expressed particular concern with the fact that the trial judge ignored the wishes of the defendant, who had the right to have his trial completed by the jury that had been sworn. Id. at 1239. See also Dumas v. State, 439 So.2d 246, 253 n. 8 (Fla. 3d DCA 1983) (en banc) (reasoning that since defendants have fundamental right to jury trial, infringement of right is fundamental error), review denied, 462 So.2d 1105 (Fla.1985). From the record it appears that Blair chose among several options and made an informed tactical decision to take his chances with this particular jury. The fact that Blair did not get the result he desired does not make his waiver any less valid or render his five-person jury constitutionally infirm.