Joshua Butler v. State of Indiana

── Joshua Butler v. State of Indiana ── Case No.: 24A-CR-02631 Court: Indiana Court of Appeals Date: April 29, 2025 Author: Judge Rudolph Pyle County of Origin: Marion Category: Criminal Decision: Reversed and Remanded Judge Bradford and Judge Kenworthy concur Our Indiana Supreme Court has explained that “[t]he jury trial right is a bedrock of our criminal justice system, guaranteed by both Article I, Section 13 of the Indiana Constitution and the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution.” Horton v. State, 51 N.E.3d 1154, 1158 (Ind. 2016). Under Indiana constitutional jurisprudence, “in a felony prosecution, waiver [of the jury trial right] is valid only if communicated personally by the defendant[.]” Id. (emphasis in the original).