Opinion ID: 2394111
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Steven Anthony Powell

Text: On 4 December 2003, Steven Antony Powell was convicted, following a bench trial in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, of the second-degree murder of his ex-wife. He was represented by counsel at trial. Powell was sentenced to thirty years of incarceration. On appeal, the Court of Special Appeals, in an unreported opinion, affirmed the Circuit Court's judgment. The intermediate appellate court concluded that Powell knowingly and voluntarily waived his right to a jury trial in accordance with Maryland Rule 4-246. The court determined that Powell was advised thoroughly of his right to a jury trial and the evidence demonstrated that Powell understood defense counsel's explanation of that right. In addition, the court noted that when Powell was asked if he wished a court or jury trial, Powell elected [a] court trial. While no specific inquiry was made by the trial judge regarding the voluntariness of Powell's election, the Court of Special Appeals concluded that the entire inquiry demonstrate[d] that the waiver was made voluntarily. Powell filed with us a Petition for Writ of Certiorari, which we granted, to determine whether the Court of Special Appeals correctly concluded that he waived validly his right to a jury trial where (1) the court did not make an explicit finding on the record regarding the knowingness and voluntariness of the waiver and (2) there was no specific inquiry into the voluntariness of the waiver. Powell v. State, 391 Md. 577, 894 A.2d 545 (2006). [5]