Banks v. United States, 5028.

Decision Date17 February 1970
Docket NumberNo. 5028.,5028.
Citation262 A.2d 110
PartiesCarlton BANKS, Appellant, v. UNITED STATES, Appellee.
CourtD.C. Court of Appeals

John A. Keats, Washington, D. C., appointed by this court, for appellant.

James L. Lyons, Asst. U. S. Atty., with whom Thomas A. Flannery, U. S. Atty., and John A. Terry and Daniel Harris, Asst. U. S. Attys., were on the brief, for appellee.

Before FICKLING, KERN and GALLAGHER, Associate Judges.

PER CURIAM:

Appellant was convicted by a judge sitting without a jury on two counts of false pretenses, D.C.Code 1967, § 22-1301, and sentenced on each to 270 days in prison to run consecutively. The only contention raised on appeal that we feel warrants discussion is the claim that the record fails to disclose a valid waiver by appellant of his constitutional right to a jury trial. See D.C.Code 1967, § 16-705(a). As was the case in Jackson v. United States, D.C. App., 262 A.2d 106, the transcript of the trial contains no waiver "in open court"; all that appears concerning what occurred on the day of trial is an entry on the back of the information reading "Jury Trial Demand Withdrawn". However, contrary to Jackson, we also have before us the transcript of a prior hearing in this case. Appellant's counsel stated that appellant wished to plead guilty, and the trial judge began to interrogate appellant to determine if that was his informed choice. The judge stated to him:

[I]f you plead guilty you waive your right to trial by the Court or jury. (Emphasis supplied).

It then became clear that appellant did not desire to confess guilt, but felt that entering a plea was the only way he could get out of jail immediately. His counsel1 pointed out:

Now, he changes his mind and wants to plead not guilty and have a trial. We are going to have to request another jury date. (Emphasis supplied.)

We note that appellant does not now allege that no waiver took place but only that the record is deficient in failing to contain evidence of such waiver. We believe that the discussion in open court at the first hearing about a jury trial for appellant and the official court entry on the information itself cured the absence from the transcript of any waiver. The subsequent failure of appellant or his counsel to object to proceeding through a trial without a jury, in the context of the prior hearing, convinces us that a valid unreported waiver occurred. Cf. Eliachar v. United States, D.C.App., 229...

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6 cases
  • State v. Yancey
    • United States
    • Court of Appeals of New Mexico
    • August 24, 2017
    ...N.W.2d 465, 465 (1982) (noting that during the plea hearing the defendant changed his mind about pleading guilty); Banks v. United States, 262 A.2d 110, 110-11 (D.C.App. 1970) (noting that during the guilty plea hearing it became apparent that the defendant did not desire to confess his gui......
  • Fortune v. United States, 10–CF–316.
    • United States
    • D.C. Court of Appeals
    • January 17, 2013
    ...See Hawkins v. United States, 385 A.2d 744, 746–47 (D.C.1978); Hicks v. United States, 296 A.2d 615, 617 (D.C.1972); Banks v. United States, 262 A.2d 110, 111 (D.C.1970); (Frederick)Jackson v. United States, 262 A.2d 106, 108–09 (D.C.1970); see also Payne v. United States, 292 A.2d 800, 802......
  • Pierce v. United States
    • United States
    • D.C. Court of Appeals
    • June 12, 1979
    ...715 (1966), his waiver of his right to a jury trial, Hawkins v. United States, D.C.App., 385 A.2d 744, 746 (1978); Banks v. United States, D.C.App., 262 A.2d 110, 111 (1970); Jackson v. United States, D.C. App., 262 A.2d 106, 108-09 (1970), his entering a plea of guilty or nob contendere, B......
  • Jackson v. United States
    • United States
    • D.C. Court of Appeals
    • September 4, 1985
    ...Hawkins v. United States, 385 A.2d 744, 746-47 (D.C.1978); Hicks v. United States, 296 A.2d 615, 617 (D.C.1972); Banks v. United States, 262 A.2d 110, 111 (D.C. 1970); Jackson, 262 A.2d at 108-09; see Payne v. United States, 292 A.2d 800, 802 (D.C.1972). The trial court is responsible for c......
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