Court Opinion

ID: 9765233
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 03:56:54.07295+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:30:06.812485
License: Public Domain

HARRELL, Judge.
In this consolidated opinion,1 we consider whether the respective trial judges, in the criminal cases of Tavony Wayne Zylanz and Steven Anthony Powell, erred by not making explicit findings on the record regarding the knowing and voluntary waivers of the Petitioners’ rights to trial by jury, in accordance with Maryland Rule 4-246(b). In the case of Powell, we consider also, in the context of the record in his case, whether on-the-record questions addressed to him specif*636ically as to the voluntariness of his jury trial waiver were required.
I.
A.

Tavony Wayne Zylanz

On 21 June 2004, in a bench trial in the Circuit Court for Baltimore County, at which he was represented by counsel, Tavony Wayne Zylanz was convicted of fourth-degree burglary, felony theft, and resisting arrest, along with other related lesser offenses. The trial court sentenced Zylanz to ten years of incarceration, suspending five years in favor of probation, for the felony theft conviction and twenty-three months of incarceration, to be served consecutively, for the fourth-degree burglary conviction.2
The Court of Special Appeals, in a reported opinion, Zylanz v. State, 164 Md.App. 340, 883 A.2d 257 (2005), affirmed. On appeal, Zylanz argued that because the trial judge , failed to make an explicit finding on the record regarding his waiver of a jury trial being knowing and voluntary, the waiver was not valid.3 Zylanz, 164 Md.App. at 342-43, 883 A.2d at 258. The intermediate appellate court concluded that Zylanz knowingly and voluntarily waived his right to a jury trial in accordance with Maryland Rule 4-246. Zylanz, 164 Md.App. at 343, 883 A.2d at 258. The court determined that “the rule does not require the court to make a specific finding by the use of certain words or phrases.” Zylanz, 164 Md.App. at 352, 883 A.2d at 263. Although the Court of Special Appeals remarked *637that the record may have been more decisive had the trial court made an explicit statement regarding its finding of the knowing and voluntary nature of the defendant’s waiver, the court stated that “while the court’s acceptance of the waiver was implicit, it [wa]s nonetheless apparent.” Zylanz, 164 Md. App. at 352, 883 A.2d at 263.
We granted Zylanz’s Petition for Writ of Certiorari to determine whether the Court of Special Appeals correctly concluded that Powell validly waived his right to a jury trial where the court did not make an explicit finding, on the record, regarding whether the waiver was knowing and voluntary. Zylanz v. State, 391 Md. 577, 894 A.2d 545 (2006).4
B.

Steven Anthony Powell

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 *638elected “[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
II.
A defendant’s right to a jury trial is protected by both the U.S. and Maryland Constitutions. See U.S. Const, amend. VI (applying to the states under the Fourteenth Amendment); Md. Const. Declaration of Rights articles 5, 21, and 24. A defendant, however, may choose to waive the right to a jury trial and instead be tried by the court. See Md. Rule 4-246(a) (“In the circuit court a defendant having a right to trial by jury shall be tried by a jury unless the right is waived *639pursuant to section (b) of this Rule.”). Maryland Rule 4-246(b) sets forth the procedure for waiving a jury trial in a criminal proceeding:
A defendant may waive the right to a trial by jury at any time before the commencement of trial. The court may not accept the waiver until it determines, after an examination of the defendant on the record in open court conducted by the court, the State’s Attorney, the attorney for the defendant, or any combination thereof, that the waiver is made knowingly and voluntarily.
As we have continued to recognize, ultimately, to waive properly this constitutionally protected right the “trial judge must be satisfied that there has been an intentional relinquishment or abandonment of a known right or privilege.” Smith v. State, 375 Md. 365, 379, 825 A.2d 1055, 1064 (2003). The waiver examination depends upon the facts and circumstances of each case. State v. Hall, 321 Md. 178, 182, 582 A.2d 507, 509 (1990). “[T]he questioner need not recite any fixed incantation” when evaluating whether the defendant knowingly and voluntarily waived his or her right to a jury trial. Martinez v. State, 309 Md. 124, 134, 522 A.2d 950, 955 (1987). “The court must, however, satisfy itself that the waiver is not a product of duress or coercion and further that the defendant has some knowledge of the jury trial right before being allowed to waive it.” Hall, 321 Md. at 182, 582 A.2d at 509 (citing Martinez, 309 Md. at 134, 522 A.2d at 955).
III.
Zylanz argues that the trial judge erred by not making an explicit finding on the record that his jury trial waiver was knowing and voluntary. Because the trial judge failed to state its conclusions on the record, Zylanz argues that his waiver was not valid. Relying upon language in a footnote in Martinez v. State, 309 Md. 124, 133 n. 9, 522 A.2d 950, n. 9 (1987),6 *640which this Court later quoted wholesale in Smith v. State, 375 Md. 365, 379, 825 A.2d 1055, 1064 (2003), Zylanz contends that Maryland Rule 4-246(b) requires that the trial court’s conclusions as to whether the defendant knowingly and voluntarily waived his or her right to a jury trial must be made on the record.
As we have consistently noted, when interpreting the rules of procedure, we use the same canons and principles of construction used to interpret statutes. State v. Williams, 392 Md. 194, 206, 896 A.2d 973, 980 (2006); New Jersey v. Strazzella, 331 Md. 270, 274, 627 A.2d 1055, 1057 (1993). In Strazzella, 331 Md. at 274-75, 627 A.2d at 1057, we outlined the following standard for interpreting the rules of procedure:
In our effort to discern the meaning of a rule, we look first to the words of the rule. When the words are clear and unambiguous, ordinarily we need not go any further. Only when the language of the rule is ambiguous is it necessary that we look elsewhere to ascertain legislative intent. We are also to give effect to the entire rule, neither adding, nor deleting, words in order to give it a meaning not otherwise evident by the words actually used. Finally, we seek to give the rule a reasonable interpretation, not one that is illogical or incompatible with common sense. (Internal citations omitted).
In Williams, 392 Md. at 207-08, 896 A.2d at 981, we stated further that
the rule is read so that no word, phrase, clause or sentence is rendered surplusage or meaningless. Where the words of a statute, construed according to their common and everyday meaning, are clear and unambiguous and express a plain meaning, the court will give effect to the rule as written. (Internal quotations and citations omitted).
*641In the present case, we need look no further than the plain language of the Rule. Maryland Rule 4-246(b) states, in part: The court may not accept the waiver until it determines, after an examination of the defendant on the record in open court conducted by the court, the State’s Attorney, the attorney for the defendant, or any combination thereof, that the waiver is made knowingly and voluntarily. (Emphasis added). The clause “on the record” modifies “examination.” Both the grammatical construction and punctuation (i.e., separation of the operative clause by commas) of the sentence support this conclusion. Therefore, while Maryland Rule 4-246(b) mandates that the examination of the defendant (i.e., the colloquy between the defendant and the court, State’s Attorney, defense counsel, or any combination thereof) must be conducted on the record, its language does not compel presently that the trial judge state explicitly on the record that he or she determines the defendant knowingly and voluntarily waived his or her jury trial right.7
In Zylanz’s case, at the commencement of the trial proceedings, immediately following the Circuit Court’s denial of Zylanz’s motion for postponement, defense counsel presented Zylanz in much detail with his options and rights for proceeding — accept the State’s offer to proceed with an agreed statement of facts, proceed with a jury trial, or proceed *642with a bench trial.8 On several occasions throughout this dialogue, Zylanz requested further explanation regarding his options and rights. Defense counsel answered fully all of Zylanz’s inquiries. Moreover, Zylanz indicated affirmatively throughout that he understood the options and rights presented to him. Following this discourse, Zylanz elected to proceed with a jury trial. While preparations for a jury trial were underway, but prior to admitting the jury venire into the courtroom, Zylanz informed defense counsel that he would like instead to proceed with a bench trial. Defense counsel reiterated again the options and rights available to Zylanz. The following exchange then occurred:
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Okay. Your other option is you can have a bench trial.[9] That’s when we have a trial, but it’s before [the judge]. Do you understand that?
[ZYLANZ]: Yes.
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Okay. Your third option is what you’ve already elected, a jury trial. That’s when 12 jurors sit there and you have a trial before them and they decide whether you’re innocent or guilty. Do you understand that?
[ZYLANZ]: Uh-huh.
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Do you still want a jury trial or bench trial in front of [the judge]?
[ZYLANZ]: Bench trial in front of [the judge].
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: You do not want a jury?
[ZYLANZ]: (Defendant shaking head.)
*643[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: You will not be able to change your mind if they dismiss the jurors. Your [sic] stuck and this trial will be over today. Do you understand that?
[ZYLANZ]: Uh-huh.
After the court clarified which criminal counts the State would proceed with,10 the trial judge asked the following:
[THE COURT]: ... Sir, I’m dismissing the jury now. Do you understand it’s just going to be you and me?
[ZYLANZ]: Yes, sir.
[THE COURT]: Okay. That’s cozy. Let them go, Dave. Thank you.
[THE COURT]: First witness, Ms. [prosecutor]?
(Emphasis added).
Based on the totality of the circumstances of this record, including the discourse, statements, and actions, it is evident that the trial judge impliedly determined that Zylanz knowingly and voluntarily waived his right to a jury trial. The court’s conduct in excusing the venire pool and commencing the bench trial was consistent with the conclusion that such had been determined. No other inference is reasonable. In State v. Chaney, 375 Md. 168, 184, 825 A.2d 452, 461 (2003), we recognized that unless the record negates the presumption, trial judges are presumed to know the law and apply it properly. As we noted, supra, Maryland Rule 4-246(b) presently does not compel, by its language, that the trial judge supply an explicit statement regarding his or her findings of the knowingness and voluntariness of a defendant’s jury trial waiver. Therefore, where the record of the case sufficiently demonstrates that the trial court implicitly determined that the elements of a knowing and voluntary jury trial waiver existed, the Rule is not violated. The Court of Special Appeals concluded correctly that Zylanz’s jury trial waiver was knowing and voluntary.
*644IV.
A.
Powell first argues, like Zylanz, that the trial judge in his case erred by not making an explicit finding on the record that his jury waiver was knowing and voluntary. In Powell’s case, defense counsel engaged Powell in the following dialogue regarding his waiver of a jury trial:
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Your Honor, Mr. Powell has tendered a plea of not guilty to the charges. He initially elected to have this case tried by a jury. Based on our discussions, he has subsequently decided to waive his right to a trial by jury. I’ll be happy to place the waiver on the record.
THE COURT: Please do so.
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Mr. Powell, as I’ve advised you, you have a right to be tried on this matter by a jury, which would consist of your participation, along with counsel, in the selection of 12 people selected at random from the voter registration and Motor Vehicle rolls of Baltimore City.
All 12 people would listen to all of the evidence in the case and they would have to be convinced beyond a reasonable doubt and to a moral certainty of your guilt before all of them could find you guilty. The jury would have to reach a unanimous verdict, that is, all 12 would have to agree that either you are guilty or not guilty.
In the event they could not agree on a guilty or not guilty verdict, the Court would declare a mistrial at that time and the State would have the option to retry your case or dispose of it in some other manner. Do you understand that?
[DEFENDANT]: Yes, sir.
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Okay. Do you understand your right to a jury trial in this case?
[DEFENDANT]: Yes, sir.
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Okay. And we have discussed the option that you also have in this case of trying your case *645before a judge ... would sit as the finder of fact and [the judge], like the jury, would have to be convinced by the evidence presented by the State beyond a reasonable doubt and to a moral certainty of your guilt before she could find you guilty. Do you understand that?
[DEFENDANT]: Yes, sir.
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Okay. Do you wish to have a court trial, or a jury trial in this case?
[DEFENDANT]: A court trial.
THE COURT: Very well. At this point, since this is a court trial, I’m going to ask for opening [statements] from the State and the defense.
(Emphasis added).
Similar to the circumstances in Zylanz’s case, the record in Powell demonstrates that the Circuit Court necessarily, though implicitly, determined that Powell knowingly and voluntarily waived his right to a jury trial. Thus, for the reasons enunciated, supra, Powell’s first argument fails.
B.
Powell argues additionally that there was no specific antecedent inquiry into the voluntariness of his jury trial waiver and therefore Maryland Rule 4-246(b) was violated. In Abeokuto v. State, 391 Md. 289, 320-21, 893 A.2d 1018, 1036 (2006), and then most recently in Kang v. State, 393 Md. 97, 110, 899 A.2d 843, 851 (2006), we re-emphasized that trial judges are not required presently by this Rule to engage in a specific ritual or fixed litany in assessing the voluntariness of defendants’ jury trial waivers. Unless there appears a factual trigger on the record, which brings into legitimate question voluntariness, the trial judge is not required presently to ask explicitly a defendant whether his or her waiver decision was induced or coerced. Kang, 393 Md. at 110, 899 A.2d at 851; Abeokuto, 391 Md. at 320-21, 893 A.2d at 1036. Like in Abeokuto and Kang, Powell’s colloquy responses did not trigger a requirement that the trial judge inquire further as to voluntariness. The implicit determination of voluntariness *646necessarily reached by the trial judge to have proceeded as he did was not undermined or brought into doubt by anything in this record. Accordingly, the Court of Special Appeals correctly concluded that Powell’s jury waiver was knowing and voluntary.
JUDGMENTS OF THE COURT OF SPECIAL APPEALS IN THE CASES OF TAVONY WAYNE ZYLANZ AND STEVEN ANTHONY POWELL AFFIRMED; COSTS TO BE PAID IN EACH CASE RESPECTIVELY BY PETITIONERS.
GREENE, J., dissents and files a separate opinion, in which BELL, C.J., joins.

. We granted separately the petitions for writ of certiorari of Tavony Wayne Zylanz, 391 Md. 577, 894 A.2d 545 (2006), and Steven Anthony Powell, 391 Md. 577, 894 A.2d 545 (2006). Each case also was argued separately before this Court. We have consolidated, however, our decisions in a single opinion because of the commonality of a central issue in each.

. The trial court either merged or imposed lesser concurrent sentences for the remaining convictions.

. Zylanz argued also that the jury trial waiver was not valid because the record did not demonstrate that it was done so knowingly and voluntarily. The Court of Special Appeals concluded that, based on the record as a whole, Zylanz understood his rights and made a knowing and voluntary choice to waive his right to a jury trial. Zylanz did not pursue his argument on this score before this Court.

. In his Petition for Writ of Certiorari, Zylanz proposed the following question for our review:
Did the Court of Special Appeals err in holding that the trial court satisfied its responsibility of ensuring that the defendant tendered a valid jury trial waiver, where the trial court did not state its conclusions on the record as to whether the waiver was made knowingly and voluntarily, but rather the "court's acceptance of the waiver was implicit”?

. In his Petition for Writ of Certiorari, Powell proposed the following question for our review:
Did the Court of Special Appeals err in concluding that Petitioner validly waived his right to a jury trial without evidence of or a finding of voluntariness on the record?
In a footnote to the Question Presented in his petition, Powell noted that, at the time, "[t]his issue is currently pending before this court in Kang v. State, Petition Docket No. 226, September Term, 2005[, 388 Md. 673, 882 A.2d 286 (2005)].” While Kang presented this Court with the question of assessing the validity of a jury trial waiver without a specific inquiry into the voluntariness of the waiver, that case did not raise the question of assessing the jury waiver where the court did not make an explicit determination on the record regarding the knowingness and voluntariness of the waiver. While, in his brief, Powell asserted that "the trial judge made no finding that the waiver was voluntary,” this assertion, in both his brief and oral argument before this Court, was addressed only minimally. Nonetheless, we shall consider these two separate questions.

. The referenced footnote in Martinez v. State, 309 Md. 124, 133 n. 9, 522 A.2d 950, 954 n. 9 (1987) states:
*640The questioner can be either the court, the State's Attorney, the attorney for the defendant, or any combination of these individuals. However, the trial court bears the ultimate responsibility for ensuring that the accused has tendered a valid waiver. The trial court’s conclusion must be on the record.

. As the State noted in its brief, there are several instances in Title 4 of the Maryland Rules where language explicitly requires the court to make determinations or findings on the record. See, e.g., Md. Rule 4-222(c) ("If the minor or adult defendant will remain in custody after the review, the District Court shall set forth in writing or on the record the reasons for the continued detention.”); Md. Rule 4-314(a)(3)("(A) The court shall grant a motion made by the defendant unless it finds and states on the record a compelling reason to deny the motion. (B) The court may grant a motion made by the State if it finds and states on the record .... ”); Md. Rule 4-342(g) ("The court ordinarily shall state on the record its reasons for the sentence imposed.”). Additionally, while language appearing in opinions of this Court that is not determinative of the holding of the case may be persuasive for future cases, ultimately it is not binding authority. As such, Zylanz's primary reliance upon the language of a portion of a footnote in Martinez, which did not examine the issue in the present case, is unavailing.

. The Court of Special Appeals, in its opinion, set forth the extensive dialogue that occurred among the defense counsel, Zylanz, and the court when setting forth Zylanz’s options and rights, including his right to a jury trial. Zylanz, 164 Md.App. at 344-52, 883 A.2d at 259-63. Verbatim reiteration of this dialogue is not critical here, however, to the analysis of the issue Zylanz argues before this Court — whether the trial court is required to provide an explicit determination on the record regarding the knowingness and voluntariness of the waiver.

. Defense counsel previously re-explained the details of the first option — the State's offer to proceed with an agreed statement of facts — to Zylanz.

. The State elected to proceed with eight criminal charges and decided to nol pros the remaining four traffic charges.