State v. Smith

• Decision Date: 16 November 1976
• Citation: 365 A.2d 1036
• Court: Maine Supreme Court
• Parties: STATE of Maine v. Keith SMITH.

Page 1036

365 A.2d 1036

STATE of Maine v. Keith SMITH.

Supreme Judicial Court of Maine.

Nov. 16, 1976.

Thomas E. Delahanty, II, Dist. Atty., Herbert Bunker, Jr., Asst. Dist. Atty., South Paris, for plaintiff.

Craig E. Turner, South Paris, for defendant.

Before DUFRESNE, C. J., and WEATHERBEE, ^* POMEROY, WERNICK and ARCHIBALD, JJ.

ARCHIBALD, Justice.

This is an appeal from two convictions following a non-jury tail. We are faced with a dilemma created by the state of the appellate record now before us. In order to avoid any prejudice to either side we deem it appropriate to remand the case to the Superior Court for such further proceedings as may be required, consistent with this decision.

What is our dilemma?

Appellant designated for inclusion in the record on appeal 'All Docket Entries' and 'All pleadings, Motions and Orders.' A detailed examination of the record as filed, which we should be able to assume comports with the designation, fails to disclose any waiver of the appellant's right to a jury trial. ¹ Rule 23(a), M.R.Crim.P., provides:

'The defendant with the apprval of the court may waive a jury trial. The waiver must be in writing.'

Furthermore, any application to the Superior Court for an order (such as approval of a requested jury waiver) must be by motion and 'in writing unless the court permits it to be made orally.' Rule 47(a), M.R.Crim.P. Form 20 in the Appendix of Forms, M.R.Crim.P., ² gives the format for the written request pursuant to Rule 23(a), including the approval of the Justice. Nowhere in the record on appeal is such a form to be found. What would appear to be complete docket entries ³ contain no mention of it.

We have also examined without success the trial transcript to determine if the defendant orally, either in person or through counsel, stated a desire to waive jury trial. Neither is there any oral statmeent by the Justice below unilaterally approving any jury waiver request. Such being the case, we need not decide whether an oral compliance with Rule 23(a), M.R.Crim.P., is adequate. But see People v. Rimmer, 59 Mich.App. 645, 230 N.W.2d 170 1975).

From the above recited facts, we conclude that the record fails to show any compliance with Rule 23(a), M.R.Crim.P., thus demonstrating a non-satisfaction of the requirements of due process. State v. Chase, 280 A.2d 550 (Me.1971).

There are two sides to a coin, however.

The trial was on November 12, 1974, counsel having been appointed for the defendant one month previously. In the interim a motion for a preliminary psychological evaluation had been filed and granted.

As the actual trial began, the court reporter gratuitously noted: 'This matter came on for trial . . . without a jury . . ..' The State was represented by a County Attorney and the defendant by his court-appointed counsel. At no point in the fifty-nine page transcript does either attorney mention the absence of a jury, leading us to believe that the trial was being conducted exactly as planned and scheduled, namely, jury waived.

Both counsel have submitted extensive briefs to us and neither suggests any failure to comply with Rule 23(a), M.R.Crim.P. Furthermore, the Justice presiding is well known to us as learned, judicious and with extensive experience in presiding at both jury and non-jury trials. It is almost inconceivable that he would allow a non-jury trial to proceed if, in fact, he did not believe Rule 23(a), M.R.Crim.P., was operative.

We are aware, however, that oversights can occur. What everyone assumes to have been done may not have been. Our sixteen Clerks' offices are busy, each maintaining active dockets. Mistakes can and do happen.

The question, simply put, is this: Had the defendant seasonably waived his right to a jury trial? If not, the trial of November 12th was a nullity, the single Justice had no legal right to render the guilty verdicts, and the convictions would have to be reversed. United States v. Davidson, 477 F.2d 136 (6th Cir. 1973); United States v. McCurdy, 450 F.2d 282 (9th Cir. 1971). If, however, the record before us does not accurately reflect the proceeding in the Superior Court, we are not powerless to cause appropriate corrections to conform to the truth.

Rule 39(i), M.R.Crim.P., provides:

'(1) Power of Court to Correct or Modify Record. It is not necessary for the record on appeal to be approved by the court below except as provided in subdivisions (n) and (r) of this rule but, if any difference arises as to whether the record truly discloses what occurred, the difference shall be submitted to and settled...