Court Opinion

ID: 9727230
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 13:26:52.997304+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:25:35.195070
License: Public Domain

Dissenting Opinion
DeBruler, J.
I dissent from the majority opinion wherein it states that the record of the arraignment is adequate to show that the appellant entered a plea of guilty “freely and understanding^” as required by the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution, Boykin v. Alabama (1969), 395 U. S. 238, 89 S. Ct. 1709, 23 L. Ed. 2d 274, and by cases in this Court, Loucks v. State (1938), 213 Ind. 108, 11 N. E. 2d 694.
A plea of guilty constitutes a waiver of several of appellant’s federal and state constitutional rights: (1) The privilege against self-incrimination guaranteed by the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments to the U. S. Constitution and Art. 1, § 14 of the Indiana Constitution. (2) The right to trial by jury as guaranteed by Art. 1, § 13 of the Indiana Constitution. (3) The right to confront his accusers as guaranteed by the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments to the U. S. Constitution and Art. 1, § 13 of the Indiana Constitution.
In Boykin v. Alabama, supra, the United States Supreme Court held that a waiver of these rights may not be inferred from a silent record. The issue then, is whether the arraignment record in this case demonstrates that appellant freely and knowingly waived these rights by pleading guilty. The only portion of the record relevant is as follows:
“COURT: On this charge of Robbery, Mister Smith, have you consulted with your client?
SMITH: Yes, your Honor.
COURT: Altright. Now—
PROSECUTING ATTORNEY: Did you advise him as to the law?
SMITH: Yes, I did.
*360COURT: I will ask you if you have been advised of your constitutional rights?
A. Yes sir.”
Before we could find that appellant waived these rights the record would have to show that he was advised that he possessed such rights. There is no such showing in this case.
It is the duty of the trial court to make it appear on the record that a criminal defendant was properly advised of his rights and freely and understandingly waived them by pleading guilty, and he cannot assume the defendant has obtained this information from some other source.
Note. — Reported in 274 N. E. 2d 523.