Westberry v. State , 239 So. 3d 186 ( 2018 )

Third District Court of Appeal
State of Florida
Opinion filed February 14, 2018.
Not final until disposition of timely filed motion for rehearing.
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No. 3D16-941
Lower Tribunal No. 15-13881
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Derrick Westberry,
Appellant,
vs.
The State of Florida,
Appellee.
An Appeal from the Circuit Court for Miami-Dade County, Milton Hirsch,
Judge.
Carlos J. Martinez, Public Defender, and Jeffrey Paul DeSousa, Assistant
Public Defender, for appellant.
Pamela Jo Bondi, Attorney General, and Christina L. Dominguez, Assistant
Attorney General, for appellee.
Before LOGUE, LUCK and LINDSEY, JJ.
LUCK, J.
Derrick Westberry was convicted and sentenced at a nonjury trial for
resisting an officer without violence and petit theft after stealing two eighteen-
packs of beer from a convenience store. Westberry contends on appeal that the
waiver of his jury trial right was not a knowing, voluntary, and intelligent one. We
disagree, and affirm.
On February 8, 2016, after discussing Westberry’s bond status, the trial
court asked about the trial date: “Now do we have future dates? Do we need
sounding and trial dates?” The assistant state attorney told the trial court: “Judge,
I have a February date. This is one of the cases where both the defense and I
stipulated that we can do to a bench trial.” The trial date was set by the clerk, and
the hearing concluded.
A month later, the case was ready for trial. Following up on the earlier
request for a bench trial, the court had this colloquy with the defendant:
[The trial court]: Counsel are we in a position to proceed on Mr.
Westberry?
[Defense counsel]: Yes, Judge.
[The trial court]: Okay. If we are going to go bench he has to waive
his right to trial by jury on the record. This is on page 28 [of the
calendar.] Derrick Westberry case F15-13881. . . . Mr. Westberry
you understand that you have a right under two constitutions to have a
trial by a jury?
[Westberry]: Yes.
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[The trial court]: But you’re going to waive that right and proceed to
trial to the bench – trial to me?
[Westberry]: Yes.
[The trial court]: You have talked that over with [defense counsel]?
[Westberry]: Yes.
[The trial court]: Has he answered all your questions?
[Westberry]: Yes.
[The trial court]: Are you satisfied with his advice on this point?
[Westberry]: Yes, sir.
[The trial court]: And you believe that this is in your best interest?
[Westberry]: Yes, sir.
[The trial court]: This has to be your decision not his. Is this your
decision?
[Westberry]: Yes, sir.
[The trial court]: So you’re waiving trial by jury.1
“The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution provides that a
defendant has a fundamental right to a jury trial. The Florida Constitution
1 While Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.260 provides for the jury trial waiver
to be in writing, the Florida Supreme Court has approved a defendant’s oral waiver
so long as it is knowing, voluntary, and intelligent. See Tucker v. State, 559 So. 2d
218, 219-20 (Fla. 1990) (approving district court’s opinion affirming the
defendant’s conviction after an oral waiver of the jury trial right because it was
made knowingly and intelligently, and “[t]echnical noncompliance with a rule of
procedure is permissible if there is no harm to the defendant”).
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specifies that the right of trial by jury shall be secure to all and remain inviolate.
An effective waiver of a constitutional right must be knowing, voluntary, and
intelligent. A defendant may waive the right to a jury trial, provided that the
waiver appears on the record.” State v. Upton, 658 So. 2d 86, 87 (Fla. 1995)
(citations and quotations omitted). Westberry contends his colloquy with the trial
court did not knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently waive his fundamental right
to a jury trial. We disagree because the colloquy in this case was comparable to,
and more searching than, other jury trial waivers that the Florida Supreme Court
and the district courts have approved.2
2 The cases relied on by Westberry are inapplicable because in those cases: (1)
there was no record evidence the defendant (as opposed to counsel) waived the
jury trial right, Torres v. State, 43 So. 3d 831, 833 (Fla. 1st DCA 2010) (“[T]he
record is devoid of any mention of the right to a jury trial.”); Babb v. State, 736 So.
2d 35, 36 (Fla. 4th DCA 1999) (noting “[t]he absence from the record of a valid
waiver of Babb’s right to jury trial”); Sinkfield v. State, 681 So. 2d 838, 838 (Fla.
4th DCA 1996) (“[T]he appellant’s remaining mute (during counsel’s apparent
waiver of appellant’s right to jury trial) did not constitute a valid waiver of that
right.”); (2) the trial court did not colloquy the defendant about whether the waiver
was knowing, voluntary, and intelligent, Morris v. State, 680 So. 2d 544, 545 (Fla.
1st DCA 1996) (“At a pre-trial conference, appellant’s counsel orally moved for a
non-jury trial. Defense counsel then asked appellant if this was his request, and
appellant orally affirmed. The trial court granted the request without any further
inquiry of appellant, and no written waiver of jury trial was filed.”); and (3) the
waiver was equivocal, Robinson v. State, 674 So. 2d 160, 160 (Fla. 3d DCA 1996)
(“In this case, the record of the oral colloquy is, at best, equivocal.”). Here, the
defendant unequivocally waived his jury trial right, and the trial court asked
questions about whether the waiver was knowing, voluntary, and intelligent. The
issue here is whether the trial court’s colloquy was sufficient enough to waive the
fundamental right to a jury trial. We find that it was.
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In Tucker v. State, 559 So. 2d 218 (Fla. 1990), the trial court had this
colloquy with the defendant about waiving his jury trial right:
THE COURT: Mr. Tucker (a codefendant) is right here? And Mr.
Ringeman[n] is right there.
Gentlemen, your counsel has explained what a non-jury trial means to
you; however, I want to make sure that you fully understand that
when you were arraigned in this case you entered a plea of not guilty
requesting a trial before jury. That was your right at that time. You
could have had a jury trial. You could have asked your attorney to
come in here and pick six people from the community to hear your
case which you would not have in a non-jury trial.
The state, of course, had a right to then make a formal decision if you
decided you did not want a jury trial; that you were agreeable for
going to a non-jury trial.
Your lawyer is correct if the state is willing to let the case be tried
before me as judge without a jury being present to listen to the
evidence. In that case it will be the judge who will determine any
issues of fact in the case as well as any questions of law.
I want to make sure if you agree to going non-jury that you do so
voluntarily and should there be a finding of guilt in this case and that
either of you will not, thereafter, come in the [sic] and comment that it
was done because you did not have a jury or if you had had a jury that
the verdict would have been otherwise.
It is you[r] privilege, it is your choice. I will ask you, directly, Mr.
Ringeman[n], do you wish to proceed to trial before a judge and
without a jury? Yes or no?
MR. RINGEMAN[N]: Yes, sir.
THE COURT: To you.
MR. TUCKER: Yes, sir.
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THE COURT: Mr. Tucker, also, the same question to you. Are you
willing to proceed without a jury?
MR. TUCKER: Yes.
THE COURT: You are willing to let the judge make the decision to
the questions of facts as well as the issues of law?
MR. RINGEMAN[N]: Yes.
MR. TUCKER: Yes.
THE COURT: [Assistant State Attorney], we cannot go any
further than that.
[ASSISTANT STATE ATTORNEY]: That being the case, the
defendants being fully advised of their rights and facts that they are
codefendants on this one trial I see nothing further to admonish them
on. The state will accept the defense motion to go by way of bench
trial.
Ringemann v. State, 546 So. 2d 52, 53 (Fla. 4th DCA 1989) (alterations in
original). Reviewing this colloquy, the Florida Supreme Court held that “Tucker
validly waived his right to a jury trial,” and “made a knowing and intelligent
waiver.” Tucker, 559 So. 2d at 220.
In Zinnerman v. State, 985 So. 2d 672 (Fla. 2d DCA 2008) (Canady, J.) (en
banc), the en banc district court reviewed this colloquy for whether it was a valid
waiver of the defendant’s jury trial right:
At a pretrial hearing, counsel for Zinnerman stated to the court
that “Mr. Zinnerman has previously indicated and I think perhaps
wisely that this would not be a good situation for a jury trial.” The
court then stated to Zinnerman:
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Now your attorney is telling me that you want to have a
trial before the Court which is where I would make the
findings of fact as well as law instead of you having a
jury that would make findings of fact and I would make
findings of law. Do you . . . want a trial with the Judge
only?
Zinnerman responded, “right” and proceeded to express various
complaints about his attorney’s performance. Zinnerman’s counsel
commented on these matters, and the court determined that Zinnerman
was not “being provided ineffective assistance of counsel.” The court
then stated to Zinnerman: “If you would like a bench trial we will set
a bench trial.” The court then reiterated that with a jury trial, “the jury
would decide the facts and the [judge] would decide the law.” The
trial court then asked Zinnerman, “I’m deciding the facts and the
law[,] correct?” Zinnerman replied, “Right, right.”
Id. at 672 (alterations and omissions in original). From this colloquy, the district
court concluded “that there [was] no basis for determining that Zinnerman’s
waiver was invalid.” Id. at 674.
In Dumas v. State, 439 So. 2d 246 (Fla. 3d DCA 1983) (en banc), “[t]he
question presented for review” by our en banc court was “whether record evidence
showing an information stamped ‘waived trial by jury with consent of state,’ above
which [was] the signature of the defendant, [was] sufficient, on a direct appeal
from a judgment of conviction, to support a finding of an effective waiver of that
constitutional right.” Id. at 248. The court quoted this portion of the record as
support for its conclusion:
PROSECUTOR: This [case of Anthony Dumas] was set for a bench
trial at eight o’clock. We did not try the case.
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I believe we are in the process of plea negotiations at this time, and
we may pass it.
Marilynn [defense counsel], is that correct?
DEFENSE COUNSEL: That is correct.
THE COURT: All right.
(Thereupon, other matters were heard, after which the following
proceedings were had:)
THE COURT: Anthony Dumas.
DEFENSE COUNSEL: We are ready for trial.
Id. (alterations in original). This and the signature on the information was “[t]he
entire record on the waiver question.” Id. Still, the en banc court affirmed the
conviction because “there [was] nothing in the record which suggest[ed] that the
waiver was not voluntary and intelligent.” Id. at 252-53.
Finally, in the context of waiving the state constitutional right to a six-
member jury, the Florida Supreme Court reviewed this colloquy after a trial ran
late and one of the jurors on the six-member panel could no longer serve. Blair v.
State, 698 So. 2d 1210, 1211 (Fla. 1997).
Mr. Brown [Defense Counsel]: What if both sides agree to go with
five?
The Court: That’s fine with me.
Mr. Lawson [Prosecutor]: Judge, the State is willing to go along with
that.
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Mr. Brown: Let me tell you in thirty seconds [sic] to discuss it with
my client because I don’t think it would be fair.
The Court: All right. . . .
....
It is my understanding that both attorneys will stipulate that we can
excuse juror number six who is Thomas Murray and we will try this
case with five jurors and be bound . . . .
Mr. Lawson: Judge, I will go along with that. I have only one request
and that is that Mr. Murray put it on the record.
The Court: I am going to do that but first I’ve got to explain to Mr.
Blair what we are considering.
Mr. Lawson: Okay.
The Court: And then, whatever decision they make will be binding on
the Court and on the Defendant. I am going to give you as much time
as you need now to discuss that possibility with your client, Mr.
Brown.
Mr. Brown: I have already discussed it with him and as opposed to
postponing it a week or having a possible mistrial, we would rather go
with five and I quickly tried to explain [to] him the alternative.
The Court: All right. Let me have [you] explain them again. I want to
make sure that this is what he wants to do.
Mr. Brown: Well, I told him there is a potential for a mistrial. There
also is, as the Court has suggested, postponing it a full week until
February 1st and I have to admit I didn’t tune in to what other
[juror’s] problem is going to be, something about an owner coming to
town.
The Court: Well, he didn’t sound terrifically serious to me.
Mr. Brown: Well, there are other possibilities of postponing it for a
full week and starting it up again February 1st or going with five
jurors. I see that as the three alternatives. I’m sure my client doesn’t
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want a mistrial. So, that leaves us with two alternatives, either
February 1st starting off again a week later or going with five jurors.
The Defendant: Your Honor, we will take the five, if that’s all right
with you.
The Court: All right. We will do that then.
Id. at 1211-12 (alternations and omissions in original). While acknowledging that
“the colloquy may not have been a perfect example of a knowing, intelligent, and
voluntary waiver of a constitutional right,” the Court concluded “that Blair’s
personal on-the-record waiver, after consultation with counsel, provided a
sufficient procedural safeguard to affirmatively show that Blair understood his
rights and the options available to him.” Id. at 1218. The Court “re-emphasized
that in whatever context the issue of waiver arises, the goal of waiver remains
constant: to ensure that any waiver of a substantial right be done knowingly,
intelligently, and voluntarily and that a record be made to demonstrate this fact.”
Id.We find the record of Westberry’s oral waiver to be knowing, voluntary, and
intelligent, and consistent with the ones approved in Tucker and Zinnerman. The
trial court, as in Tucker and Zinnerman, before accepting the waiver made sure
Westberry knew about his jury trial rights under the United States and Florida
Constitutions by verifying the defendant understood those rights (he said he did).
See Tucker, 559 So. 2d at 220 (“If the defendant has been advised by counsel
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about the advantages and disadvantages of a jury trial, then the colloquy will serve
to verify the defendant’s understanding of the waiver.”). The trial court, as in
Tucker and Zinnerman, before accepting the waiver made sure Westberry’s
decision was an intelligent one by asking if he talked it over with his attorney (he
had), his attorney answered all his questions (he did), and Westberry was satisfied
with his attorney’s advice on waiving the jury trial right (he was). The trial court,
as in Tucker and Zinnerman, before accepting the waiver made sure Westberry’s
waiver was voluntary by asking if the waiver was in his best interest (it was), and
was a decision that he alone made (it was). Westberry had a month between when
the issue was first raised, and the date of the trial, to discuss waiving his jury trial
right with his attorney, get all his questions answered, and satisfy himself that the
decision was in his best interests, which he did.
The colloquy with Westberry was more searching than the ones approved in
Dumas and Blair. The trial court, unlike in those cases, before accepting the
waiver made sure Westberry understood the right he was waiving. The trial court,
unlike in those cases, before accepting the waiver made sure Westberry had time to
talk with his attorney about waiving this fundamental constitutional right, had all
his questions answered, and was satisfied with his attorney’s advice on the issue.
The trial court, unlike in those cases, before accepting the waiver made sure
Westberry was making the decision on his own and because it was in his best
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interest. The trial court did more than engage Westberry in the single-sentence
exchanges that were found to be sufficient waivers in Dumas and Blair. Blair, 698
So. 2d at 1212 (“Your Honor, we will take the five, if that’s all right with you.”);
Dumas, 439 So. 2d at 248 (the information was stamped “‘waived trial by jury
with consent of state,’ above which [was] the signature of the defendant”).
Still, even though we find the colloquy sufficient to show that Westberry
knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently waived his right to a jury trial, we
emphasize, as the Florida Supreme Court did in Tucker,
it is better practice for trial courts to use both a personal on-the-record
waiver and a written waiver. An appropriate oral colloquy will focus a
defendant’s attention on the value of a jury trial and should make a
defendant aware of the likely consequences of the waiver. If the
defendant has been advised by counsel about the advantages and
disadvantages of a jury trial, then the colloquy will serve to verify the
defendant’s understanding of the waiver. Executing a written waiver
following the colloquy reinforces the finality of the waiver and
provides evidence that a valid waiver occurred.
Tucker, 559 So. 2d at 220. Although perfection is not required, we agree with the
Court that this procedure “better promotes the policy of recognizing only voluntary
and intelligent waivers.” Id.Affirmed.
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