EX PARTE POWERS

• Decision Date: 09 October 1998
• Citation: 723 So.2d 740
• Parties: Ex parte Gweneth POWERS. (Re Gweneth Powers v. State).
• Court: Alabama Supreme Court

723 So.2d 740

Ex parte Gweneth POWERS.

(Re Gweneth Powers v. State).

1970589.

Supreme Court of Alabama.

October 9, 1998.

Roger C. Appell, Birmingham, for petitioner.

Bill Pryor, atty. gen., and Frances R. Clement, asst. atty. gen., for respondent.

Prior report: Ala.Cr.App., 723 So.2d 735.

MADDOX, Justice.

WRIT QUASHED AS IMPROVIDENTLY GRANTED.

HOOPER, C.J., and HOUSTON, KENNEDY, COOK, SEE, and LYONS, JJ., concur.

ALMON and SHORES, JJ., dissent.

SHORES, Justice (dissenting).

I respectfully dissent. Rule 18.1(b), Ala. R.Crim.P., provides in part:

"(b) Waiver of Trial by Jury. In all cases, the defendant may waive his right to trial by jury, with the consent of the prosecutor and the court, as follows:

"(1) When the defendant is tried in circuit court other than on appeal for trial de novo, waiver of the right to trial by jury must be made by the defendant in writing or in open court upon the record and with the consent of the prosecutor and the court. Before accepting a waiver, the court shall address the defendant personally in open court and shall advise the defendant of his or her right to a trial by jury, and shall ascertain that the waiver is knowing, voluntary, and intelligent...."

The Committee Comments to Rule 18.1, Ala. R.Crim.P., note:

"This right [to trial by jury] has been jealously guarded in Alabama through the Alabama Constitution, by statute, and by case law. Art. I, § 6, Alabama Constitution of 1901, provides in pertinent part `That in all criminal prosecutions, the accused has a right ... [to] a speedy, public trial, by an impartial jury of the county or district in which the offense was committed....'

"More emphatically, Art. I, § 11, Alabama Constitution of 1901, provides, `That the right of trial by jury shall remain inviolate.' (Emphasis added [in the comment].) The phrase `shall remain inviolate' has been interpreted to mean that the state is forbidden `through the legislative, judicial, or executive department—one or all—from ever burdening, disturbing, qualifying or tampering with this right to the prejudice of the people.' [Citations omitted.] Finally, Amendment No. 328, § 6.11, to the Alabama Constitution of 1901 (the Judicial Article) illustrates that the right to trial by jury remains inviolate. That section permits the Alabama Supreme Court to promulgate rules of court practice and procedure with the limitation that `the right to trial by jury as at common law and declared by Section 11 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901 shall be preserved to the parties inviolate.'"

The Committee Comments also state:

"Section (b) provides for waiver of the right to a jury trial. Where the defendant is charged with a felony offense, the heavier burden is on the State to show an affirmative waiver...."

See Maddox, H., Criminal Procedure (1990) § 18.1.

The "Appendix of Forms" accompanying the Alabama Rules of Criminal Procedure contains, as Form 84, a form styled "Waiver of Jury"; that form is based upon Rule 18.1(b). That form provides for the defendant's signature to be given after this statement:

"Comes now ________________, the defendant, in his own and proper person and through his attorney and waives his right to a trial by jury in this cause. I understand that the court will advise me of any right to a trial by jury in the record. I understand my right to a trial by jury and I hereby make a knowing, voluntary and intelligent waiver of my right to a trial by jury."

Form 84 also provides a place for the district attorney to consent to the waiver, and it provides a place for the circuit judge to sign. By signing, the circuit judge states:

"Having addressed the defendant in open court advising him of his right to a trial by jury, the Court

"[] Consents to the trial of this cause without the intervention of a jury, finding that defendant's waiver of trial by jury was knowingly, voluntarily and intelligently made.

"[] Rejects the defendant's waiver of trial by jury, finding that it was NOT knowingly, voluntarily and intelligently made."

In its December 20, 1996, opinion, the Court of Criminal Appeals noted that the case action summary sheet in Powers's case contains the following entry:

"5/10/96 The defendant having made

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