State v. Rollinson

Summary

The Supreme Court of North Carolina affirmed the Court of Appeals’ determination that the trial court complied with the statutory procedure for consenting to defendant’s waiver of a jury trial on the habitual-felon allegation. The statute required the trial court to address defendant personally and determine whether he understood and appreciated the consequences of waiver, but it did not prescribe the method of communication or require defendant to respond personally. The trial court’s method was reasonable, and its determination that defendant understood the consequences was not an abuse of discretion.