State v. Ill

74 Iowa 441 | Iowa | 1888

Robinson, J.

The only question presented by this appeal is the power of the defendant to waive his right to a trial by jury in the district court. It is contended by appellant that such right did not exist, and that this case falls within the rule announced in State v. Carman, 63 Iowa, 130, and State v. Larrigan, 66 Iowa, 426. In each of those cases the defendant was tried on an indictment, and it was held that section 4350 of the Code was an imperative provision, which excluded the jurisdiction bf the court, without a jury, to try an issue of fact presented by indictment. In this case, defendant was accused, by information, of an offense of which the district court had only appellate jurisdiction. Section 4702 of the Code provides that a casé of this kind “ shall stand for trial anew in the district court in the same manner as it should have been tried before the justice.” It should have been tried before the justice in one of two modes : either by the court or by a jury. The provisions of the Code which apply in this case are as follows: “Sec. 4669. Upon a plea other than a plea of guilty, if the defendant do not demand a trial by jury, the justice must proceed to try the issue, unless a change of venue be applied for by defendant.” “Sec. 4672. Before the justice has heard any testimony upon the trial, the defendant may demand a trial by jury.” It will be noticed that the proper manner of trying a case of this kind in justice’s court is to try it to the justice, unless a jury is demanded by defendant. In other words, if he fail to demand a jury, he waives the right to be tried by one. This being the case in justice’s court, and the cause being triable in the same mode or manner in the district court, the defendant had the power tp consent to a trial to the court. He was not denied the right to a trial by jury, and cannot now be heard to complain that he was not so tried.

Affirmed.