Opinion ID: 2272524
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: A New Trial Should Be Granted Because Appellant's Waiver of His Right to a Jury Trial and His Right To Testify Were Inadequate.

Text: It is Appellant's position that a new trial should be awarded because the ineffectiveness of trial counsel rendered his waiver of his right to a jury trial and his waiver of his right to testify unknowing and unintelligent and thus invalid. According to Appellant, he could not knowingly and intelligently waive a jury trial [or his right to testify] given [trial] counsel's dearth of investigation and the wealth of information that was available to counsel but of which counsel was unaware. [13] Appellant's Brief, 50. In addition, Appellant submits that because trial counsel's pre-trial investigation was inadequate, counsel could not have properly advised Appellant to waive his right to a jury trial. Appellant's Brief, 50. Appellant is entitled to no relief with respect to this issue because we have held that trial counsel was not ineffective for the reasons stated by Appellant. Moreover, Appellant has failed to meet the prejudice prong of the ineffectiveness test here since he never alleged or proved that but for counsel's alleged ineffectiveness he would not have waived a jury trial. See Commonwealth v. Mallory, 596 Pa. 172, 941 A.2d 686, 697 (2008) (holding that in order to meet the prejudice prong of the ineffectiveness test, a defendant alleging that a jury waiver colloquy was deficient must establish that the outcome would have been different, i.e., that but for counsel's ineffectiveness he would not have waived a jury trial); Commonwealth v. Lassiter, 554 Pa. 586, 722 A.2d 657, 663 (1998) (Opinion Announcing the Judgment of the Court) (stating that this Court cannot presume that a defendant would have chosen a jury trial; burden is on defendant to set forth a factual predicate establishing same before relief may be granted). Notably, a review of the record of the jury waiver hearing demonstrates that Appellant's waiver comported with the law. A valid waiver of the right to a jury trial must contain evidence that the accused understood the fundamental essentials of a jury trial which are: 1) that the jury be chosen from members of the community ( i.e., a jury of one's peers), 2) that the accused be allowed to participate in the selection of the jury panel, and 3) that the verdict be unanimous. Commonwealth v. Houck, 596 Pa. 683, 948 A.2d 780, 787 (2008); see also Mallory, supra . Instantly, the record demonstrates that Appellant signed a written jury waiver colloquy form that set forth the essential elements of a jury trial and explained all of the rights Appellant was waiving by deciding to be tried by a judge and not a jury. In addition, the trial court questioned Appellant twice on the record regarding his decision to waive his right to a jury trial. N.T. 9/24/97, 2-20; N.T. 9/29/97, 9-12. On both occasions, Appellant averred that he understood the rights associated with the right to a jury and that he was waiving them knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily. In this regard, Appellant's waiver of his right to a jury trial appears to be unassailable. Appellant's contention that his waiver of his right to testify was invalid lacks merit for the same reason that the foregoing claim did, namely, Appellant has failed to prove that but for trial counsel's ineffectiveness, he would have testified. Claims alleging ineffectiveness of counsel premised on allegations that trial counsel's actions interfered with an accused's right to testify require a defendant to prove either that counsel interfered with his right to testify, or that counsel gave specific advice so unreasonable as to vitiate a knowing and intelligent decision to testify on his own behalf. Commonwealth v. Nieves, 560 Pa. 529, 746 A.2d 1102, 1104 (2000). See also Commonwealth v. Uderra, 550 Pa. 389, 706 A.2d 334 (1998). By not testifying at the evidentiary hearing, Appellant has placed this Court in the position of having to guess whether counsel's ineffectiveness interfered with his right to testify. Furthermore, trial counsel testified at the evidentiary hearing that he asked Appellant to testify both at trial and during the penalty hearing and Appellant refused. N.T. 10/27/03, 77-78, 80. We may not engage in speculation on this issue and thus Appellant's claim is meritless.