California Proposition 20, Waiver of Trial by Jury Amendment (1928)

California Proposition 20
Election date November 6, 1928
Topic Civil and criminal trials
Status a Approved
Type Constitutional amendment	Origin State legislature

California Proposition 20 was on the ballot as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment in California on November 6, 1928. It was approved.

A “yes” vote supported allowing trial by jury to be waived in all criminal trials where both parties consent and the defendant and their attorney express so in open court.

A “no” vote opposed allowing trial by jury to be waived in all criminal trials where both parties consent and the defendant and their attorney express so in open court.

Election results

California Proposition 20
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		788,046	65.42%
No		416,596	34.58%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title for Proposition 20 was as follows:

“

Waiving Jury Trial in Criminal Cases

”

Ballot summary

The ballot summary for this measure was:

“

Senate Constitutional Amendment 9. Amends Section 7, Article I, of Constitution. Declares that a trial by jury may be waived in all criminal cases, by consent of both parties, expressed in open court by the defendant and his counsel.

”

Full Text

The full text of this measure is available here.

Path to the ballot

See also: Amending the California Constitution

A two-thirds vote was needed in each chamber of the California State Legislature to refer the constitutional amendment to the ballot for voter consideration.

See also

1928 Measures

• 1928 Measures
• State judiciary on the ballot
• Civil and criminal trials on the ballot
• 1928 legislative sessions

California

• California ballot measures
• California ballot measure laws

News and analysis

• Ballot measure lawsuits
• Ballot measure readability
• Ballot measure polls

External links

• California Voter Guide (November 1928)