State v. Bazile , 2013 La. LEXIS 1082 ( 2013 )

HUGHES, J.,

dissenting.

hi respectfully dissent. The Constitution provides for trial by jury. Subsequent jurisprudence holds a defendant may waive a jury and be tried by a judge. Either way, a criminal defendant has a constitutional right to a trial. There is no rational basis here to restrict this right. Bench trials are quicker and more economical and are less burdensome to court personnel and our citizens. What is the point in a law that tends to guide criminal defendants into jury trials?