People v. Washington

253 N.E.2d 677, 115 Ill. App. 2d 318, 1969 Ill. App. LEXIS 1509
CourtAppellate Court of Illinois
DecidedOctober 6, 1969
DocketGen. 52,419, 53,377
StatusPublished
Cited by10 cases

This text of 253 N.E.2d 677 (People v. Washington) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Appellate Court of Illinois primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
People v. Washington, 253 N.E.2d 677, 115 Ill. App. 2d 318, 1969 Ill. App. LEXIS 1509 (Ill. Ct. App. 1969).

Opinion

MR. JUSTICE MURPHY

delivered the opinion of the court.

In a bench trial, defendant was found guilty of burglary and was sentenced to the penitentiary for a term of two to four years. On appeal he contends that the trial court erred in (1) accepting his jury waiver, and (2) admitting evidence in violation of defendant’s Fifth and Sixth Amendment rights, as set forth in Miranda v. Arizona, 384 US 436 (1966).

The prosecuting witness, Arthur J. Arthur, owner of Cohen’s Department Store at 739 South California Avenue in Chicago, testified that on January 26, 1967, he closed his store and, upon returning on January 28, 1967, he found the iron gates on the front window torn off, the window glass broken, and no merchandise left. He did not see anyone take the merchandise.

Police Officer Robert Keating testified that about 1:45 a. m. on January 28, 1967, he and his partner were cruising in their squad car in the area of California and Lexington. When about 60 feet away, they saw defendant and another man come out of Cohen’s Department Store, carrying what appeared to be clothing. The police officers chased both men. Defendant was caught and, after being told at gunpoint to stand still, he dropped some clothing. Defendant was then searched and handcuffed.

Officer Keating had a conversation with defendant before they entered the squad car, in which “I advised him that he had the right to remain silent, that anything he might say might be used against him in future proceedings; that before any statements were taken, he was entitled to an attorney; and if he did not have an attorney, that he would be appointed one before any statements were taken.” Officer Keating then asked him if he understood, and defendant said “yes.” The officer further said that after they entered the squad car “I asked him what he was doing in the store. He replied that he was in the store, he saw other people in there and that they were taking things and he thought he would too.”

Police Officer Arthur Hajek testified that he was Officer Keating’s partner. He saw defendant Washington coming through a window at 739 South California, carrying a bundle under his arm. Another person came out before defendant, and while Officer Keating was chasing defendant, he unsuccessfully chased the other man. On cross-examination Officer Hajek did not recall testifying before the grand jury that he saw “one male negro coming out of the front showroom,” and this was the man apprehended by Officer Keating.

David Selig, an Assistant State’s Attorney for Cook County, also testified for the State. He was riding with two other police officers in a squad car on the night in question and saw two men come out of the department store. He saw defendant’s arrest but did not see anything in defendant’s hands. He further testified, “The person I saw exit the window is the same person now on trial — George Washington — and he is the same one I saw the arresting officer have in custody.”

Defendant testified that he was 21 years of age and on January 28,1967, he was on his way home from a poolroom when he was arrested at 739 South California Avenue. He did not at any time enter Cohen’s Department Store, and the shirt and overalls that he was found carrying at the time of his arrest were not stolen, and he “got them off the ground couple feet before the store.” After he picked them up “a fellow jumped out of the window and all at once, the police came and shot, and he said ‘Hold it’ and then I dropped the shirts on the ground and threw my hands up in the air and then he came down and said, ‘Where is your partner?’ I said, T don’t have a partner.’ He said, ‘Who is that that jumped out of the window? ’ I said, T don’t know.’ Then the other one went down the street and I was up there, standing up talking to the other one.”

Considered first is defendant’s contention that the trial court erred in accepting a jury waiver. At the trial defendant was represented by John D. Dillner, an Assistant Public .Defender. The report of proceedings shows that when the case was called for trial, the following colloquy took place:

Defense Attorney: “Defendant is ready for trial.”
Prosecutor: “State is ready.”
Defense Attorney: “Defendant has executed a jury waiver and at this time I will tender it to the court.”
Prosecutor: “Let the record show the defendant says he knows what a jury is.”
The Court: “Are you willing to be tried by this Court rather than a jury ?”
Defendant Washington: “Yes.”
The Court: “You waive your right to a jury?”
Prosecutor: “Do you have a question?”
Defendant Washington: “No.”
The Court: “Plea is not guilty.”

Defendant argues that “the defense attorney advised the court that the defendant had executed a jury waiver and that he tendered it to the court. However, this statement does not indicate that the defendant knew or was informed of the meaning or consequences of a jury trial as compared with a bench trial, nor does the statement of the court: ‘You waive your right to a jury’ explain what a jury trial means or what it means to be tried by the court. This is not what is meant when waiver must be made understandingly in open court.”

Defendant’s authorities include People v. Surgeon, 15 Ill2d 236, 238, 154 NE2d 253 (1958); People v. Fisher, 340 Ill 250, 265, 172 NE 722 (1930); Patton v. United States, 281 US 276 (1930); People v. Suarez, 96 Ill App2d 153, 237 NE2d 841 (1968). In substance, these cases affirmatively show that “the trial court is charged with the duty to see that the election of an accused to forego a trial by jury is both expressly and understandingly made. That duty cannot be perfunctorily discharged.” People v. Surgeon, supra, p 238.

We think the remarks made by the Illinois Supreme Court in People v. Richardson, 32 Ill2d 497, 499, 207 NE2d 453 (1965), apply here:

“Whether a jury waiver has been knowingly and understandingly made depends upon the facts and circumstances of each case, and there can be no precise formula for determining whether a waiver is understandingly made. . . . Merely because the court did not at length discuss the consequences of the jury waiver does not necessarily require a holding that the waiver was not understandingly made. . . . While the trial court might well have dwelt at more length on this matter in complying with its duty to insure that the jury waiver was expressly and understandingly made . . . , we believe that this record indicates that defendant understandingly waived his right to trial by jury.”

We agree that the trial court has the duty to see that an accused person’s election to waive a jury trial is not only expressly but also understandingly made, and the performance of that duty cannot be perfunctorily discharged.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
253 N.E.2d 677, 115 Ill. App. 2d 318, 1969 Ill. App. LEXIS 1509, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-washington-illappct-1969.