The New Jersey Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that before a defendant in a criminal case can choose to have a judge act as the fact-finder, he or she must sign a waiver acknowledging the rights that are being surrendered.
In a unanimous, unsigned opinion, the court said the form must state, and the defendant acknowledge, that a jury is composed of 12 members of the community, that the defendant can participate in jury selection, that the jury must be unanimous in a finding of guilt and that if a jury trial is waived, a single judge will determine guilt or innocence.
