Commonwealth v. Schofield

463 N.E.2d 1181, 391 Mass. 772, 1984 Mass. LEXIS 1495

• Court: Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
• Decided: May 9, 1984
• Status: Published

Opinion

Hennessey, C.J.

Everett E. Schofield was convicted of armed robbery, G. L. c. 265, § 17, and rape, G. L. c. 265, § 22 (a), following a trial in the Superior Court before a judge without a jury. He appealed his convictions to the Appeals Court challenging the sufficiency of the colloquy conducted by the judge concerning the waiver of his rights to a jury trial. The Appeals Court reversed the judgments entered by the trial judge and ordered a new trial before a jury. Commonwealth v. Schofield, 16 Mass. App. Ct. 199 (1983). The Commonwealth then filed an application for further appellate review, which we granted. We conclude that the record adequately shows the defendant’s valid waiver of his right to trial by jury. Accordingly, we affirm the judgments of the Superior Court.

The facts underlying Schofield’s convictions are summarized in the opinion of the Appeals Court and we need not repeat them here. See id. at 200. Our focus is confined to the waiver of jury trial, evidenced by the colloquy between the trial judge and Schofield and set out in the margin. 1 The Appeals Court found this colloquy inadequate in light of certain language in Ciummei v. Commonwealth, 378 Mass. 504 (1979). The Appeals Court described generally our reasoning in Ciummei. It then stated that under Ciummei a judge’s determination regarding whether a defendant has voluntarily and intelligently waived the right to a jury trial “is not likely to be disturbed simply because the colloquy involved less than an exhaustive description of the ramifications of the defendant’s decision, provided (and this is the crucial point) that the dialogue is sufficient to furnish the judge with the information necessary to warrant findings that the defendant is (1) aware of the differences between jury and jury-waived trials; (2) that he has not been coerced or improperly influenced in his decision; and (3) that he is, at the time of the waiver, capable of rational judgment” (emphasis in the original). 16 Mass. App. Ct. at 203. After so stating, the majority of the panel concluded that “[t]he difficulty in this case lies in the first finding. There is absolutely no indication in the colloquy that Schofield was likely aware of the factors, set out in Ciummei, which distinguish the two forms of trial, particularly the critical information that the defendant has a voice in selecting the jurors and that their verdict must be unanimous.” Id.

Justice Cutter dissented from the conclusion of the majority of the panel. He stated that he did not read the language in our Ciummei decision to require a colloquy to contain specific information upon which the judge could make the three findings set forth by the majority of the panel. Rather, he viewed the language in our Ciummei decision “merely as suggestions of possible lines of inquiry ‘where a defendant needs a compendious reminder’ of the extent of his rights.” Commonwealth v. Schofield, supra at 207 (Cutter, J., dissenting), quoting Ciummei v. Commonwealth, supra at 510. We agree with the construction of our language contained in Justice Cutter’s dissent.

In Ciummei v. Commonwealth, supra at 509-510, we specifically stated that we did “not intend to create a rigid pattern” of factual determinations which a judge must make before concluding a defendant’s waiver of the right to trial by jury was voluntary and intelligent. We stressed that inquiries directed to such a conclusion should not be “discharged as a mere matter of rote.” Id. at 510, quoting Patton v. United States, 281 U.S. 276, 312 (1930). The majority of the Appeals Court panel are correct in observing we specifically referred to the factual differences between jury and bench trials as an appropriate focus of a judge’s colloquy with the defendant. See Ciummei v. Commonwealth, supra at 510. Nevertheless, our reference to the differences between a jury and bench trial was qualified in two ways. First, we mentioned the differences between bench and jury trials only for the purpose of illustrating what a judge might address in his colloquy. Second, we made clear that an extended colloquy is only necessary where a judge determines “a defendant needs a compendious reminder” of the right being waived. These qualifications should make clear the advisory nature of our reference to the differences between jury and bench trials. We did not intend to establish a rule that a defendant’s waiver of his right to jury trial will be deemed valid only where a colloquy on the record evidences the defendant was aware of all the differences between bench and jury trials mentioned in Ciummei. We intended only to suggest some areas of inquiry that a judge might find useful in determining whether a defendant’s waiver was voluntary and intelligent.

The defendant asserts that the inadequacy of the colloquy alone can form the basis for the grant of a new trial. While that premise may hold true where no colloquy is conducted at all, it does not extend to establish a sweeping prophylactic rule. The colloquy primarily is only evidence of whether a defendant’s waiver of the right to trial by jury was voluntary and intelligent. It is not an independent constitutionally required prerequisite to a valid waiver of the right to a jury trial. See Ciummei v. Commonwealth, supra at 508-509. That which we required for a colloquy to be adequate in itself, is limited: “[T]he defendant, being competent, must simply have indicated a comprehension of the nature of the choice” between a bench and jury trial. Id. at 510. Such comprehension of the choice may be based on information provided to the defendant by the judge, the defendant’s counsel, the defendant’s personal knowledge, or some other source. Once this minimum requirement is met, all other analysis with regard to the colloquy is strictly whether the colloquy as evidence was sufficient for the judge to “satisfy himself that any waiver by the defendant [was] made voluntarily and intelligently.” Id. at 509. If the colloquy cannot support such a conclusion, it may support the grant of a new trial, not because the colloquy was flawed, but because of insufficient evidence to support the judge’s decision to accept the defendant’s waiver.

In the instant case there is adequate support for the judge’s decision. The facts are sufficient to indicate the defendant’s comprehension of the nature of the choice he faced. The defendant was competent. He stated he discussed the matter of waiver with his attorney. He responded affirmatively when asked if he understood certain differences between bench and jury trials. These facts, in addition to the remainder of the colloquy, support the decision of the judge that the defendant’s choice to waive his right to trial by jury was voluntary and intelligent.

Judgments of the Superior Court affirmed.

1 The judge: “Mr. Schofield, my name is Zobel and I’m the Justice of the Superior Court who’s going to be trying this case. And I understand that you want to waive your right to a jury.”

The defendant: “Yes, your Honor.”

The judge: “Now, before I can approve of your request to waive your right to a jury, I have to be persuaded that you understand all your rights and are giving them up voluntarily. You understand?”

The defendant: “Yes.”

The judge: “Now, I’m going to ask you some questions. If any of my questions are not clear, you just tell me, okay?”

The defendant: “Yes.” [Then followed preliminary questions concerning Schofield’s age (twenty-seven, at the time of trial), education (ninth grade), occupation (cook), and military service (none)].

The judge: “You understand that a jury trial means that the twelve people in a jury box decide whether or not you are guilty?”

The defendant: “Yes, I do.”

The judge: “And if you give up that right to a jury trial, it means that a judge, in this case, me, I, will decide — ”

The defendant: “Yes, I understand.”

The judge: “ — the case? A jury trial is a very fundamental right. You understand that?”

The judge: “That’s why I have to be very sure that you are willing to give up that right and are doing it freely and voluntarily. Y ou understand that?” The defendant: “Yes.”

The judge: “Has anyone promised you or offered you anything to make you give up your right to a jury trial?”

The defendant: “No, I have done it on my own. I volunteered.”

The judge: “Have you discussed this with Mr. Gorman, your lawyer?”

The defendant: “Yes, I have.”

The judge: “Okay. And you are satisfied with the advice which Mr. Gorman has given you?”

The defendant: “Yes. I am.”

The judge: “All right. I find that Mr. Schofield is fully aware of his right and that he has knowingly and purposefully and intelligently waived his right to a trial by a jury and I accept the waiver.”