Defendants must ask for a jury trial if they want one.

• A. True
• B. Not Stated
• C. Not Applicable
• D. False

Answer: (D)

A defendant’s right to a jury trial in criminal cases is a protected entitlement, not a procedural hurdle that must be navigated by a formal request in every situation. The fact that someone wants a jury trial does not hinge on a separate “ask” step to obtain it; the court’s responsibility is to honor the defendant’s right to a jury trial, and a waiver of that right is what would lead to a bench trial if the defendant chooses or agrees to it. In short, the ability to have a jury trial isn’t simply contingent on whether the defendant asks; the right exists and can be exercised, or waived, as appropriate. That’s why the statement is false.