State v. Bazile

WEIMER, Justice.

hln an effort to prevent what were perceived as abusive practices by defendants in criminal cases exercising waivers of jury trials in order to disrupt trial schedules, the legislature enacted a proposed constitutional amendment which was submitted to the electorate.1 The constitutional amendment, which was approved by voters and is now contained in La. Const, art. I, § 17(A), provides in pertinent part: “Except in capital cases, a defendant may knowingly and intelligently waive his right to a trial by jury but no later than forty-five days prior to the trial date and the…