People v. Traugott (Cal. Ct. App. - May 6, 2010)

The defendant's not there. The defendant's lawyer isn't there. Indeed, one of the jurors isn't even there, having bailed for an interview. All you have are 11 jurors and stand-in lawyers.

Do I really need to tell you that you can't take a verdict in that setting? Really?!

Apparently so.

This is what happens when a court strongarms someone into waiving their rights in order to "expedite" things. A reversal. With the associated costs of an appeal and a retrial.

You gotta be more careful. Even in Riverside.