Summary
In State ex rel. Derber v. Skaff, 22 Wis.2d 269, 274, 125 N.W.2d 561 (1964), we held that "the presence and silent acquiescence of the defendant in a case such as the instant one sufficiently demonstrates the authority of the attorney to speak for the defendant, and makes the attorney's statement his own."
Summary of this case from State v. LivingstonOpinion
December 2, 1963 —
January 7, 1964.
HABEAS CORPUS. Petition denied.
For the petitioner there was a brief by Cohen Parins, and oral argument by Robert J. Parins, all of Green Bay.
For the respondent the cause was argued by William A. Platz, assistant attorney general, with whom on the brief was George Thompson, attorney general.
Richard Derber, petitioner, is confined in the state reformatory. He was committed by the municipal court of Winnebago county, upon conviction of first-degree murder. His guilt was determined by the court, sitting without a jury. Petitioner claims the conviction was void because the Fourteenth amendment to the constitution of the United States and the constitution of Wisconsin guarantee him a jury trial. The attorney general relies on a waiver of jury trial in open court.
At the time of arraignment, several weeks before trial, Derber appeared in person and by counsel. Counsel (not his present counsel) entered pleas of not guilty and not guilty by reason of temporary insanity. The court inquired whether a jury was wanted. Derber's counsel replied that the defense "offers to waive a jury." The court approved the waiver and the district attorney consented. There was no written waiver, and Derber, himself, said nothing.
The Fourteenth amendment to the constitution of the United States does not require the states to afford a jury trial in criminal proceedings. It follows that a state may set its own procedure for waiver of the jury trial afforded in that state. Thus petitioner's claim that he has been confined in violation of the Fourteenth amendment has no merit. We note, however, that a stipulation made by counsel, without protest by defendant, to trial by jury of less than 12 in a federal prosecution has been deemed a sufficient waiver, immune from collateral attack on constitutional grounds.
Maxwell v. Dow (1900), 176 U.S. 581, 604, 20 Sup. Ct. 448, 44 L.Ed. 597; Twining v. New Jersey (1908), 211 U.S. 78, 111, 29 Sup. Ct. 14, 53 L.Ed. 97; Palko v. Connecticut (1937), 302 U.S. 319, 324, 58 Sup. Ct. 149, 82 L.Ed. 288.
United States v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (D.C. Pa. 1961), 196 F. Supp. 51, 53.
Horne v. United States (5th Cir. 1959), 264 F.2d 40, certiorari denied (1959), 360 U.S. 934, 79 Sup. Ct. 1460, 3 L.Ed.2d 1549.
Sec. 7, art. I., Wis. Const., guarantees a trial by jury in prosecutions by indictment or information. In an early case, this court held that trial by jury could not be waived after a plea of not guilty. Later it was decided that trial by jury could be waived if a statute so provided, but could not be waived in the absence of statute.
State v. Lockwood (1877), 43 Wis. 403, 405.
In re Staff (1885), 63 Wis. 285, 289, 23 N.W. 587.
Jennings v. State (1908), 134 Wis. 307, 310, 114 N.W. 492 (criticized in Okershauser v. State (1908), 136 Wis. 111, 113, 116 N.W. 769; Oborn v. State (1910), 143 Wis. 249, 259, 126 N.W. 737), and State v. Smith (1924), 184 Wis. 664, 672, 200 N.W. 638.
Sec. 957.01 (1), Stats., now provides generally that criminal cases in courts of record shall be tried by a jury of 12 "unless the defendant waives a jury trial in writing or by statement in open court, entered in the minutes, with the approval of the court and the consent of the state."
Petitioner argues that in the absence of written waiver, the statute requires a statement uttered by the defendant in person waiving or assenting to a waiver of jury trial.
Obviously the statute does not, in so many words, specify that the statement must be made by defendant in person, and it is commonplace that many acts which a party to an action or other proceeding is called upon to perform in the course of litigation are done on his behalf by his attorney, if he has one. We think the statute is properly to be interpreted in the light of this recognized practice.
In according validity to a plea of guilty entered for a defendant by his counsel, this court has said: "The established practice in the courts of this state is to permit an attorney to represent and speak for one charged with crime."
Duenkel v. State (1932), 207 Wis. 644, 649, 242 N.W. 179.
The court of appeals for the Fifth circuit has said, in finding a waiver immune from collateral attack:
"Here the matter was intelligently and deliberately discussed in open court. The Court had every right to conclude that the action openly taken on both occasions by petitioner's counsel, with no protest from petitioner was, as in the usual case . . . the act of petitioner."
Horne v. United States, supra, p. 43, footnote 3.
The court of appeals for the District of Columbia, in applying a rule similar to our statute, said:
"It is obvious that the word `accused,' or its synonym `defendant,' is often used to apply to a defendant or his counsel. Thus, while throughout the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure the word `defendant' is generally used, it is quite apparent that in most instances, when the accused has counsel, the latter rather than the former is the proper person to take the action required thereunder."
Hensley v. United States (D.C. Cir. 1960), 108 App. D.C. 242, 281 F.2d 605, 608.
We have found several cases in states requiring affirmative waiver and recognizing oral waiver, where defendant's counsel orally waived jury trial, in defendant's presence, and defendant was held to have acquiesced by failing to object. In California, the defendant must also personally express consent but this rule stems from the terms of the state constitution permitting waiver by consent "expressed in open court by the defendant and his counsel." We have found no other cases which squarely meet the problem under statutes or rules similar to ours.
Seattle v. Gardner (1959), 54 Wn.2d 112, 113, 338 P.2d 125; People v. King (1961), 30 Ill. App.2d 264, 268, 174 N.E.2d 213; Territory v. Van Dalden (1934), 33 Haw. 113, 131, and Commonwealth v. Dailey (1853), 66 Mass. (12 Cush.) 80, 83.
People v. Holmes (1960), 54 Cal.2d 442, 444, 353 P.2d 583.
Petitioner relies on decisions holding that an attorney, by virtue of his retainer, does not have authority to bind a client to a compromise settlement. In view of the importance of the right of jury trial as a constitutionally protected right, we would agree that a written waiver signed by the attorney alone or an oral waiver by the attorney out of the presence of the defendant would not be sufficient without something of record to show authorization or ratification by defendant. Doubtless where a defendant charged with a misdemeanor duly authorized an attorney to represent him at a trial in his absence, pursuant to sec. 957.01(1), Stats., authority to waive a jury trial would be implied. We think, however, that the presence and silent acquiescence of the defendant in a case such as the instant one sufficiently demonstrates the authority of the attorney to speak for the defendant, and makes the attorney's statement his own.
Fosha v. O'Donnell (1904), 120 Wis. 336, 342, 97 N.W. 924; Seymour State Bank v. Rettler (1917), 164 Wis. 619, 621, 160 N.W. 1084.
Although we conclude that the statutory requirements for waiver of jury trial were fulfilled, it should be noted that it would be good practice for defense counsel or the court to address questions to the defendant in order to make it clearer of record that defendant joins in the waiver.
The petition for a writ of habeas corpus is denied.
BEILFUSS, J., took no part.