State v. Olivera , 53 Haw. 551 ( 1972 )

OPINION OF THE COURT BY

RICHARDSON, C.J.

Kenneth Joseph Olivera was indicted for burglary in the first degree. At the arraignment proceeding held on July 28, 1969, Olivera entered a plea of not guilty. In Olivera’s presence, Valta Cook, defense counsel representing Olivera, informed the presiding judge that “we would like a judge to try the case as soon as possible.”¹ On August 4, 1969, at the proceeding to set a trial date, at which Olivera was present, Olivera’s counsel concurred in the trial judge’s statement for the record that “a demand for jury-waived trial has been made.”²

A trial by the court resulted in Olivera’s conviction. On August 13, 1969, Olivera was sentenced to imprisonment at hard labor for twenty years.

Olivera filed a motion on April 7, 1971, asking that the judgment of conviction be set aside and for a new trial. A hearing on the motion was held on June 15, 1971. The motion was denied by an order dated June 21, 1971. Olivera appeals that decision to this court.

The sole question is whether a demand in open court for a jury-waived trial by an accused’s counsel in the accused’s presence constitutes a voluntary and knowing waiver of the accused’s constitutional right to a jury trial in accordance with Rule 23(a) of the Hawaii Rules of Criminal Procedure. Rule 23(a) of the Hawaii Rules of Criminal Procedure states:

(a) Trial by jury. Cases required to be tried by jury shall be so tried unless the defendant waives a jury trial with the approval of the court. The waiver shall be either by written consent filed in court or by oral consent in open court entered, on the minutes.

In the present case, no written consent embodying a waiver was filed in court. The question before this court is whether demand by appellant’s counsel for a trial by the court constituted a valid waiver “by oral consent in open court . . . .” We believe a criminal defendant may effectively waive his right to a trial by jury through his legal counsel.

The right to trial by jury may be effectively waived only when the accused has acted voluntarily and knowingly. The presence and advice of counsel are highly probative in determining that a defendant has acted voluntarily and knowingly. Courts have generally assumed that counsel will perform his duty to apprise the accused of his rights afforded by law and to take steps to further the best interests of the accused. It is well established that a voluntary and knowing waiver of a jury trial may be exercised through counsel and need not be announced by the accused personally. Territory v. Van Dalden, 33 Haw. 113, 130-31 (1934); State v. White, 13 Ariz. App. 265, 266, 475 P.2d 750, 751 (1970); State v. McPherson, 12 Ariz. App. 281, 282, 469 P.2d 847, 848 (1970); State v. Jelks, 105 Ariz. 175, 177-78, 461 P.2d 473, 475 (1969); State v. Skaff, 22 Wis. 2d 269, 273-74, 125 N.W.2d 561, 563 (1964); Hensley v. United States, 281 F.2d 605, 607 (D.C. Cir. 1960). An accused’s presence in court without objection to his counsel’s relinquishment of the accused’s right to a jury trial must be held to reflect the accused’s knowing acquiescence in that decision. People v. Novotny, 41 Ill.2d 401, 409-10, 244 N.E. 2d 182, 187 (1968); Eliachar v. United States, 229 A.2d 451, 452 (D. C. 1967); People v. King, 30 Ill. App.2d 264, 268, 174 N.E.2d 213, 215 (1961); Hensley v. United States, supra at 608. In the present case, appellant’s presence without objection at the arraignment proceeding and the proceeding to set a trial date shows his knowing acquiescence in the decision to waive his right to trial by jury.

An additional factor is operative in the present case. The hearing on appellant’s motion to set aside judgment and for a new trial revealed that appellant was well informed of his right to a jury trial and that he voluntarily and knowingly waived this right for tactical reasons. We do not believe that the accused is entitled to a new trial when he makes an informed decision to opt for a trial by the court and, when dissatisfied with the outcome, makes a belated demand for a jury trial. See People v. Novotny, supra at 186-87.

Robert W. Jinks (Carlsmith Carlsmith Wichman & Case of counsel) for appellant.

Appellant’s heavy reliance on Boykin v. Alabama, 395 U.S. 238 (1969), is misplaced. The Court in Boykin held that state courts may not assume from a silent record that a guilty plea had been voluntarily made. A guilty plea amounts to a conviction of the offense charged and involves waiver of several constitutional rights: (1) privilege against compulsory self-incrimination; (2) right to a jury trial; (3) right to confront one’s accusers. The mandate in Boykin is not binding in the present case since waiver of a jury trial has less conclusive and damaging results than a plea of guilty which waives all rights inherent in a trial. See United States v. Hunt, 413 F.2d 983, 984 (4th Cir. 1969); State v. Jelks, 105 Ariz. 175, 461 P.2d 473, 476 (1969).

It is not our intention to dilute the constitutional potency of the right to a trial by jury. On the contrary, this right, firmly ingrained in the American scheme of justice, should be jealously protected against unjust intrusion. Although the accused may effectively waive this right through his legal counsel, we recognize that it is clearly the preferred practice for the trial judge to advise the accused of his right to a jury trial and to conduct a personal interrogation of the accused. This practice would serve several useful purposes. First, it would provide a more solid factual basis for the trial judge to determine whether the defendant is fully apprised of his right to a jury trial and voluntarily wishes to relinquish this right. In addition, the trial judge’s on-the-record interrogation of the accused himself would facilitate determination, in any post-conviction proceedings, as to whether the waiver was made knowingly and voluntarily and thus discourage unmeritorious appeals. United States v. Straite, 425 F.2d 594, 595-96 (D.C. Cir. 1970); Jackson v. United States, 262 A.2d 106, 109 (D.C. 1970); United States v. Hunt, supra at 984, State v. Skaff, 22 Wis.2d 269, 274, 125 N.W.2d 561, 563 (1964).

The judgment is affirmed.

Jon R. Ono, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney (Yoshito Tanaka, Prosecuting Attorney with him on the brief) for appellee.

1 THE COURT: All right. The record would show in all cases demands for jury trials have been made.

MR. COOK: No—

MR. CARLSMITH. Not necessarily.

THE COURT: All right. Mr. Cook, first, on Mr. Olivera.

MR. COOK: Your Honor, we would like a judge to try the case as soon as possible—

THE COURT: The record would show a jury-waived trial demand has been made by Mr. Cook for his client, Mr. Olivera.

2 THE CLERK: Criminal No. 3916, State of Hawaii versus Kenneth Joseph Olivera, charged with Burglary in the First Degree.

THE COURT: The record would show a plea of not guilty has been entered and a demand for jury-waived trial has been made.

The case has been set for trial August 6, 1969, 9:30. Is that agreeable to you?

MR. ITO: Yes, your Honor.

MR. COOK: It is agreeable.