Court Opinion

ID: 9688588
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 17:57:27.278208+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:18:40.522204
License: Public Domain

RAWLINGS, Justice
(concurring specially) .
In the case at bar defendant alone requested trial to the court, waiving right of trial to a jury. The prosecuting attorney resisted. Thereupon trial court ordered the case be tried to a jury.
The majority holds trial court was correct, and upon the factual situation presented I agree.
However, that does not mean I adopt the view inferentially expressed by the majority to the effect a jury trial may never be waived in connection with a felony prosecution.
Despite our prior decisions to the contrary, I am satisfied and would now hold, trial to a jury may be waived in such cases (1) if defendant, in writing or orally in open court, waives trial to a jury and consents that his case be tried to the court alone, (2) subject to the right of the county attorney, in writing or orally in open court, to resist for good cause shown, and (3) if trial court, in the exercise of sound judicial discretion, finally determines and orders trial to a jury shall be waived.
In support of this view see Singer v. United States, 380 U.S. 24, 85 S.Ct. 783, 13 L.Ed.2d 630, and American Bar Association Project on Minimum Standards for Criminal Justice, Trial by Jury, Approved Draft, section 1.2, and attendant commentary,
BECKER, J., joins in this special concurrence.