Hawkins v. United States

NEWMAN, Chief Judge:

Convicted of armed kidnapping, armed rape, armed robbery, and carrying a pistol without a license, appellant primarily contends on appeal that the trial court erred in allowing appellant to waive his Sixth Amendment right to jury trial without a sufficient inquiry to determine whether the waiver was knowingly and voluntarily made. 1 We agree and reverse.

Appellant was accused of raping and robbing two women in the vicinity of Washington Circle, N.W., in January and February of 1975. At arraignment in May 1975, he requested a jury trial. Six months later, pursuant to an…