Rule 620 – Waiver of Jury Trial

May 14, 2021 | Criminal Procedure, Pennsylvania

In all cases, the defendant and the attorney for the Commonwealth may waive a jury trial with approval by a judge of the court in which the case is pending, and elect to have the judge try the case without a jury. The judge shall ascertain from the defendant whether this is a knowing and intelligent waiver, and such colloquy shall appear on the record. The waiver shall be in writing, made a part of the record, and signed by the defendant, the attorney for the Commonwealth, the judge, and the defendant’s attorney as a witness.

234 Pa. Code ยง 620

Committee Explanatory Reports:

Final Report explaining the April 16, 1999 amendments concerning the 1998 Constitutional amendment published with the Court’s Order at 29 Pa.B. 2290 (May 1, 1999).

Final Report explaining the March 1, 2000 reorganization and renumbering of the rules published with the Court’s Order at 30 Pa.B. 1477 (March 18, 2000).