Court Opinion

ID: 9863263
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-25 03:19:02.272683+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:40:21.980302
License: Public Domain

OVERSTREET, Judge,
dissenting.
I dissent to the majority’s disposition of this case for the same reasons as I set out in my dissenting opinion in Hatch v. State, 958 S.W.2d 813 (Tex.Crim.App.1997). The State just as it did in Hatch makes the argument that Article 62.201 of the Government Code applies to criminal cases; however, Article 62.201 does not extend to criminal eases. Instead Article 36.29 of the Code of Criminal Procedure dictates when a case may be disposed of by less than twelve jurors. Specifically, a jury of less than twelve can deliver a verdict when a juror dies or becomes disabled.
Also, I am neither influenced nor persuaded by the State’s creative approach to the definition of waiver of a jury trial. The State asserts that waiver of a jury trial includes consent to proceed with less than twelve; however, waiver of jury trial means the election to proceed without an entire jury and have the court determine issues of fact. Accordingly for the reasons stated above I would affirm the decision of the court of appeals.