patton argued february decided april claude nowlin spielman oklahoma city patton others charles hughes sol washington justice sutherland delivered opinion defendants plaintiffs error indicted federal district charged conspiring bribe federal prohibition agent crime punishable imprisonment federal penitentiary term year jury twelve men duly impaneled trial began october continued jury twelve october following time one jurors severe illness became unable serve juror thereupon stipulated open government counsel defendants defendants personally assenting thereto trial proceed remaining eleven jurors stipulation consented stating defendants government entitled constitutional jury twelve absence one juror result mistrial unless sides waive objections agree trial remaining eleven jurors following statement stipulation renewed open parties colloquy counsel defendants stated personally conferred counsel defendants individually desire finish trial case eleven jurors defendants waive presence twelfth juror trial concluded following day verdict guilty rendered eleven jurors defendants sentenced terms imprisonmen penitentiary several counts indictment appeal taken circuit appeals upon ground defendants power waive constitutional right trial jury twelve persons doubt law applicable situation thus presented desiring instruction certified following question commencement trial federal jury twelve men upon indictment charging crime punishment may involve penitentiary sentence one juror becomes incapacitated unable proceed work juror defendant defendants government official representative charge case consent trial proceeding finality jurors defendant defendants thus waive right trial verdict constitutional jury men question thus submitted one great importance respect differences opinion among various lower federal state courts thus far required definitely answer however statements former opinions followed require negative answer referred relied upon defendants federal constitution contains two provisions relating subject article cl provides trial crimes except cases impeachment shall jury trial shall held state said crimes shall committed committed within state trial shall place places congress may law directed sixth amendment provides criminal prosecutions accused shall enjoy right speedy public trial impartial jury state district wherein crime shall committed district shall previously ascertained law informed nature cause accusation confronted witnesses compulsory process obtaining witnesses favor assistance counsel defence passing later consideration question whether provisions although varying language receive interpretation whether taken together separately effect guarantee right establish tribunal indispensable part government structure first inquire embraced phrase jury means trial jury understood applied common law includes essential elements recognized country england constitution adopted open question elements jury consist twelve men neither less trial presence superintendence judge power instruct law advise respect facts verdict unanimous first requisites enough cite thompson utah reversed conviction defendant charged grand larceny jury eight men saying must consequently taken word words jury placed constitution reference meaning affixed law country england time adoption instrument thompson committed offence grand larceny territory complete jurisdiction purposes government law land required tried jury composed less twelve persons second requisite expressly dealt capital traction company hof said trial jury primary usual sense term common law american constitutions merely trial jury men officer vested authority cause summoned impaneled administer oaths constable charge enter judgment issue execution verdict trial jury men presence superintendence judge empowered instruct law advise facts except acquittal criminal charge set aside verdict opinion law evidence proposition generally admitted seldom contested little occasion distinct assertion third requisite held essential american publishing company fisher springville thomas ed maxwell dow common law elements embedded constitutional provisions quoted beyond authority legislative department destroy abridge said justice brewer american publishing company fisher supra respect requirement unanimity applicable elements well may true legislation changes mere details jury trial clear statute destroys substantial essential feature thereof one abridging right attempt vain ineffectual whatever form may take see debs foregoing principles furnishing precise basis answer question presented useful effect disclosing nature scope problem since demonstrate unassailable integrity establishment trial jury parts make clear destruction one essential elements effect abridging right contravention constitution follows must reject limine distinction sought made effect complete waiver jury consent tried less number twelve must treat forms waiver substance amounting thing words affirmative answer question certified logically requires conclusion person charged crime punishable imprisonment term years may consistently constitutional provisions already quoted waive trial jury twelve consent trial lesser number without jury unmindful decisions state courts holding competent defendant waive continued presence single juror become unable serve time ing doubting validity waiver considerable number jurors jury altogether see example state kaufman iowa compare state williams iowa commonwealth ex rel ross egan compare commonwealth hall none cases able find persuasive ground distinction state courts think better reason adopted contrary view state baer ohio person charged manslaughter convicted eleven jurors trial began jury twelve one jurors becoming incapable service trial concluded remaining eleven disposing case state thought necessary consider broad question page ohio whether right trial jury guaranteed sections bill rights waived extensive review authorities discussion question principle concluded since permissible accused person plead guilty thus waive trial must necessarily able waive jury trial jennings state juror trial excused service illness case continued concluded remaining eleven wisconsin also disposed case involving power defendant waive jury altogether saying seems necessarily follow person trial criminal case power waive jury right tried less number jury puts county requires jury comply demands constitution fact jury instant case required number stage trial cause submitted instructions operate satisfy constitutional demand point trial incomplete essential duty jury deliberate upon evidence agree upon verdict respecting defendant guilt innocence remained unperformed without verdict jury said verdict jury required constitution verdict illegal insufficient support judgment deem unnecessary cite cases deal problem point view constitutional jury means twelve men though number specifically named follows reduced eleven ceases jury quite effectively though number reduced single person conclusion seems self evident attempt made overthrow save amounts little suggestion reducing number jury eleven ten infraction constitution slight courts may trusted see process reduction shall unduly extended constitutional question thus settled simple process ascertaining infraction assailed unimportant compared similar serious infractions might conceived uphold voluntary reduction jury twelve eleven upon ground destroys jury slight reduction interpret instrument disregard province measure extent constitution contravened ignore violation opinion relatively bad might come crucial inquiry effect constitutional provisions respect trial jury establish tribunal part frame government guarantee accused right trial former question certified lower must without answered negative defendants strongly rely upon language thompson utah supra page said accused object verdict trial jury composed eight persons therefore heard say trial jury violation constitutional rights sufficient say power one accused felony consent expressly given silence authorize jury eight persons pass upon question guilt law force crime committed permit tribunal deprive liberty except one constituted jury twelve persons statement though positive form authoritative case involved validity statute dispensing jury twelve providing trial jury eight contention defendant thompson consented trial objected verdict effect express consent part trial jury eight indeed silent constraint said respect matter obviously obiter dictum defendants also cite supporting contention two decisions federal circuit courts appeal namely low dickinson first cases opinion rendered judge lurton afterwards justice definitely holds waiver trial crime jury involves setting aside tribunal constituted law purpose substitution consent one unknown law done consent accused district attorney opinion concludes accused right waive everything pertains form much structure trial may waive concerns public matter involves fundamentally jurisdiction jurisdiction pronounce judgment conviction crime plea guilty rests upon foundation verdict jury without basis judgment void strong language judge whose opinion entitled great respect second case involving completion trial consent jury eleven persons substantially held scholarly thoughtful dissenting opinion judge aldrich reviews practice upon subject antedating constitution course opinion referring article sixth amendment says pages aim constitutional safeguards question full fair public trial one shall reasonably substantial ways safeguard interests state life liberty accused parties whether idea expressed words done bills rights constitutions free fair trial means trial free fair lot humanity admit doubtless agree least unquestioned authority way protective provisions constitution imperative accused shall tried jury desires plead guilty trial event trial shall held invalid want due process law based upon ground confronted witnesses waived constitutional right consented use depositions compulsory process obtaining witnesses favor waived assistance counsel intelligently refused constitutional privilege insisted upon right go trial without counsel upon ground speedy trial petitioned delay trial public consented silently acquiesced trial courthouse capacity holding members public rather question right accused case like jurors throughout far absolute constitutional right may claiming even withholding consent proceed without number doubtless constitutional government like interests community far enter incidental departure number course trial require discretionary approval proper representative government join accused consent probable history debates constitutional convention found sustain idea constitutional safeguards question sense established something necessary protect state community supposed danger accused parties waive away interest government liberties go jail never practical danger theory least application modern american conditions based upon useless fiction upon reason idea giving countenance right waiver something necessary reasonable protection rights liberties accused something intended practical useful administration rights parties characterized involving innovation dangerous said judge seevers state kaufman iowa much convincing satisfactory informed highly dangerous english origin probably found far right waiver withheld accused parties large sense reason conviction crime old english system operated outlaw attaint blood work forfeiture official titles inheritance thus affecting rights third parties every substantial sense constitutional provisions respect jury trials criminal cases protection interests accused may limited guarded measure waived party sought benefited record english colonial jurisprudence antedating constitution searched vain evidence trial jury criminal cases regarded part structure government distinguished right privilege accused contrary uniformly regarded valuable privilege bestowed upon person accused crime purpose safeguarding oppressive power king arbitrary partial judgment thus blackstone held trial jury civil criminal cases esteem called glory english law nevertheless looked upon albeit transcendent privilege subject enjoy book iii judge story writing time adoption constitution still memory men living speaking trial jury criminal cases said immediate ancestors removed america brought great privilege birthright inheritance part admirable common law fenced round interposed barriers every side approaches arbitrary power incorporated state constitutions fundamental right constitution justly obnoxious conclusive objection recognized confirmed solemn terms story constitution light foregoing reasonable conclude framers constitution simply intent upon preserving right trial jury primarily protection accused intention went beyond included purpose establishing jury trial crimes integral inseparable part instead one instrumentalities strange nothing effect appears contemporaneous literature debates innumerable discussions time remarkable recall minute scrutiny every provision proposed constitution subjected reasonable inference concern framers constitution make clear right trial jury remain inviolable end language deemed imperative purpose third article rendered highly probable consideration form expression used sixth amendment criminal prosecutions accused shall enjoy right speedy public trial impartial jury provision deals trial jury clearly terms privilege although occurring later respect jury trials contained original constitution regarded modifying altering earlier provision reason thinking within purpose first ten amendments original constitution substantially contemporaneous construed pari materia construed latter provision fairly may regarded reflecting meaning former words two provisions mean substantially thing effect holding callan wilson said think amendment intended supplant part third article relates trial jury necessary conflict upon view constitutional provisions conclude article jurisdictional meant confer right upon accused may forego election deny power convert privilege imperative requirement question remains whether empowered try case without jury say whether congress vested jurisdiction end think although state well federal decisions suggest different conclusion constitution art judicial power vested inferior courts congress may time time ordain establish pursuance authority congress early day established district circuit courts section judicial code code tit usca circuit courts abolished expressly conferred upon district courts jurisdiction crimes offenses cognizable authority broad comprehensive grant gives courts named power try every criminal case cognizable authority subject controlling provisions constitution absence valid consent district proceed except jury jury necessary jurisdiction accused entitled terms constitution mode trial since however right jury trial may waived unreasonable leave powerless give effect waiver dispose case opinion authority exercise sound discretion accept waiver necessary corollary proceed trial determination case reduced number without jury jurisdiction end vested foregoing statutory provisions power waiver established clear import decision schick ann cas rev stat superseded judicial code district courts given jurisdiction crimes offenses cogniable authority committed within respective districts upon high seas punishment capital act congress requiring trial offenses shall jury fully organized competent transaction business without presence jury see also ex parte belt riddle dyche harmony notion presence jury constitutional prerequisite jurisdiction criminal case first cases involved validity act congress authorizing waiver jury criminal cases district columbia appeals district upheld statute belt app leave asked file petition writ habeas corpus upon application qustion answered page ground application go jurisdiction authority district rather allegation mere error latter reviewed proceeding schneider cases cited reviewing authorities held district jurisdiction determine validity act authorized waiver action reviewed habeas corpus second case riddle habeas corpus assailed conviction federal district upon ground jury composed eleven men held trial jurisdiction record showing upon face lawful jury impaneled sworn charged collaterally impeached remedy writ error conclusion respect jurisdiction courts notwithstanding peremptory words third article constitution fortified consideration certain provisions judiciary act stat act passed shortly organization government constitution day preceding proposal first ten amendments first congress among members congress many participated convention framed constitution act always considered relation instrument contemporaneous exposition highest authority capital traction company hof supra pages cases cited section act provides trial issues fact district courts causes except civil causes admiralty maritime jurisdiction shall jury section provides trial issues fact circuit courts shall suits except equity admiralty maritime jurisdiction jury observed language mandatory form precisely article constitution fair assume framers statute using words constitution intended meaning purpose latter jurisdictional easy avoid conclusion purpose former always held beginning early day notwithstanding imperative language statute competent parties waive trial jury early cases collected foot note kearney case wall following statement judiciary act amendment constitution secured right either party suit common law trial jury also opinion statute intended point mode trial issues fact cases numerous decisions however settled right jury trial might waived parties judgment cases valid seventh amendment referred provides respect suits common law involving value exceeding right trial jury shall preserved significant language positive provision statute trial issues fact shall jury regarded synonymous another ground frequently relied upon denying power person accused serious crime waive trial jury proceeding public policy decisions conflicting leading case support proposition one influenced decisions advancing similar views cancemi people case cancemi indicted crime murder jury impaneled sworn trial begun stipulation made prisoner counsel counsel people express consent request prisoner juror withdrawn verdict subsequently rendered remaining eleven jurors appeal judgment based upon verdict reversed case decided question regarded one first impression following excerpt opinion indicates basis decision state public interest preservation liberties lives citizens allow taken away due process law const art forfeited may punishment crimes criminal prosecutions proceed assumption forfeiture sustain must ascertained declared law prescribed blackstone vol says king interest preservation subjects objections jurors may waived may substituted triers dispose challenges jurors secondary place primary evidence may received admissions facts allowed similar particulars wll relation mere formal proceedings generally consent render valid without erroneous plea guilty indictment whatever may grade crime received acted upon made clearly appear nature effect understood accused case preliminary investigation grand jury admission accusation indictment supposed sufficient safeguard public interests issue joined upon indictment trial must tribunal mode constitution laws provide without essential change public officer prosecuting people authority consent change defendant reasoning present case conclusion necessarilty follows consent plaintiff error withdrawal one juror remaining eleven might render verdict lawfully recognized circuit nullity deficiency one juror might waived appears good reason deficiency eleven might difficult say upon principle entire panel might dispensed trial committed alone highly dangerous innovation reference criminal cases upon ancient invaluable institution trial jury constitution laws establishing securing mode trial allow number short full panel twelve jurors think tolerated ad decision flatly contrary one fairly representative others effect state kaufman iowa defendant indicted forgery upon trial one jurors ill discharged consent defendant trial concluded remaining eleven verdict guilty upon appeal verdict upheld authorities upon question reviewed course opinion says pages iowa plea guilty ordinarily dispenses jury trial thereby waived seems us effectually destroys force thought state public interest preservation lives liberties citizens allow taken away without due process law thought otherwise expressed blackstone vol king interest preservation subjects matters whether defendant fact guilty plea guilty effectual case reasons fact guilty may induce defendant plead thereby state may deprived services citizen yet state never actively interferes case right defendant plead never doubted must permitted judge respect case bar defendant may consented tried eleven jurors witnesses present might able get best tried jury thus constituted permitted hamper respect restrain liberty right believed interest whatever rule adopted affects defendant others similarly situated matter much desire avail right defendant desires repudiate unwilling establish rule referring statement cancemi case highly dangerous innovation allow number short full panel twelve jurors one tolerated said page iowa much convincing satisfactory informed dangerous tolerated least something tendency direction true stated certainly difficult give satisfactory reason support strong language used see also state sackett page concludes discussion subject saying wise beneficient provisions found constitution statutes designed welfare protection accused may waived matters form substance jurisdiction acquired within limits trial exercising sound discretion behalf may permit defendants formally waived juror stipulated try case claim fatal irregularity trial difficult see fact frequently suggested accused may plead guilty thus dispense trial altogether effectively disclose fallacy public policy contention state may interpose claim public interest accused desire waive jury trial fortiori able interpose like claim determination avoid form trial admitting guilt free decide question latter case notwithstanding interest society preservation life liberty denied power former answer say pleading guilty nothing left jury try simply ignores question effect plea answer fairly obvious view interest public life liberty accused plea accepted acted upon must question guilt submitted jury events moreover suggestion wholly beside point public policy inconsistent permit accused dispense every form trial plea guilty yet forbid dispense particular form trial consent truth theory public policy embodies doctrine vague variable quality unless deducible given circumstances constitutional statutory provisions accepted basis judicial determination utmost circumspection public policy one generation may changed conditions public policy another may conceded least generally rule common law accused permitted waive trial jury generally permitted waive right intended protection nevertheless colonies waiver trial without jury means unknown many references contained brief solicitor general conclusively show phase matter stop consider rule common law whether exclusive subject exceptions justified conditions longer exist nevada well said reno smelting works stevenson contrary spirit common law apply rule founded particular reason case reason utterly fails ratione legis cessat ipsa lex maxim seems strikingly apposite question review among restraints common law accused testify behalf felonies allowed counsel iv sharswood blackstone note judge cases occupying place counsel prisoner charged responsibility seeing prisoner suffer lack counsel id conviction crime worked attaint forfeiture official titles inheritance judge aldrich points quotation supra constituted large sense reason withholding holding accused parties right waiver conditions ceased exist disappearance justification old rule longer rests upon substantial basis respect fully agree said wisconsin hack state ancient doctrine accused waive nothing unquestionably founded upon anxiety courts see innocent man convicted arose days accused testify behalf furnished counsel punished convicted death penalty grievous punishment proportion gravity crime circumstances well perhaps rule exist well every technical requirement insisted state demanded meed blood course raised sort barrier utilize prosecution successful successful man without money without counsel without ability summon witnesses permitted tell story unjustly convicted yet ordinary principles waiver applied civil matters waived every defect proceedings humane policy modern criminal law changed conditions man charged crime furnished complete opportunity making defense may testify behalf poor may counsel furnished state may witnesses summoned paid state infrequently thus furnished counsel able attorney state short modern law taken great pains surround accused person means effectively make defense ancient law took pains prevent consummation reasons sense justified former attitude courts therefore disappeared save perhaps capital cases question shall adhere principle based upon conditions longer existing sound reason occurs us person accused lesser crime misdemeanor comes attorney fully advised rights furnished every means making defense held waive right privilege ask party civil action waives right asking view power waive trial jury criminal cases denied grounds public policy must rejected unsound denied jury trial may waived case petty offenses contention rule otherwise case crimes magnitude one consideration decisions effect also decisions contrary conflict marked direct schick supra thought favor contention prosecution violation oleomargarine act stat punishable fine agreement writing jury waived issue submitted judgment held offense petty one sustained waiver said word article constitution read light common law read include petty offenses neither constitutional provisions rule public policy prevented defendant waiving jury trial question whether power waiver extended serious offenses directly involved concluded decision justice harlan dissenting opinion reviewing authorities concluded page ann cas grounds upon decisions rest upon principle applicable alike cases felonies misdemeanors although consequences accused may evident well serious former latter cases although reject general view dissenting opinion waiver jury trial valid criminal case accept foregoing statement entirely sound unable find decisions convincing ground holding waiver effective misdemeanor cases effective case felonies decisions real attempt made establish distinction beyond assertion public policy favors power waiver former denies latter serious consequences form punishment may ensue suggested differentation light said seems us fanciful real schick case true dealt petty offense view conclusions already reached stated observations pages become equally pertinent felony involved six amendments seen gives accused right trial jury article gives right confronted witnesses assistance counsel possible accused admit bound admission witness present testify certain facts wish assistance counsel waives trial invalid seems necessary ask questions answer constitutional statutory mandate public policy prohibiting accused may waive privilege given right enjoy commonwealth beard super prosecution conspiracy one jurors discharged trial concluded remaining eleven judgment verdict conviction sustained reviewing conflicting decisions unable find good reason differentiating matter waiver two classes crimes fully indorse concluding words upon subject pages surely true public interested protection accused proportion magnitude solicitude goes great offender difference point sacredness constitutional rights asserted one charged grave crime asserted one charged lesser one hence held schick ann cas trials lowest grades offenses accused may waive continued presence full number jurors quired make jury right trial jury possible conclusion purely theoretical element public concern potential override accused free choice render effectually unfree even conviction sentence regarded reality much factor case view matter subsequently approval state commonwealth ex rel ross egan noting conflict authority waiver held effective number named said pages defendant supposed understand rights may aided desires counsel advise many legal provisions security benefit may dispense absolutely instance right plead guilty submit sentence without trial whatsoever theory upon opposing cases decided seems rest proposition society large much interested impartial trial defendant may sentenced imprisonment therefore permission waive right charged felony accorded may reason applying rule capital cases done pennsylvania principle invoked relieve charged lesser offenses larceny though technically denominated felony consequences voluntary act appears record consent course pursued freely given defendant heard thereafter complain solution question depends upon determination whether trial less irregularity nullity latter held sentence imposed may sustained contrary true former correct conclusion reached case misdemeanors superior sustained sentences voluntary waiver appeared com beard supra real justification different decision case felonies capital supported see also commonwealth rowe mass state ross involving misdemeanor followed state tiedeman involving felony affirming power defendant criminal case waive trial constitutional jury submit trial jury less twelve persons mean hold waiver must put effect events perhaps sufficiently appears already trial jury normal occasional exceptions preferable mode disposing issues fact criminal cases grade petty offenses cases value appropriateness jury trial established long experience denied must right accused trial constitutional jury jealously preserved maintenance jury body criminal cases importance place traditions waiver become effective consent government counsel sanction must addition express intelligent consent defendant duty trial regard discharged mere matter rote sound advised discretion eye avoid unreasonable undue departures mode trial essential elements thereof caution increasing degree offenses dealt increase gravity question submitted must answered affirmative ordered justice holmes justice brandeis justice stone concur result chief justice took part consideration decision case justice sanford participated consideration agreed disposition case accordance opinion