Adds a new subsection (c) to GS 15A-1201 to require that a trial judge do all of the following before consenting to a defendant' waiver of the right to trial by jury: (1) ask the prosecutor if the state objects to the waiver, and if the state does object, ask the prosecutor to provide the grounds for the state's objection; (2) personally address the defendant and ascertain as to whether the defendant fully understands and appreciates the consequences of waiving the right to trial by jury; (3) review the arguments from the state and the defendant regarding the defendant's waiver of a jury trial; and (4) determine if the defendant's waiver is offered in good faith or a tactic to obtain an otherwise impermissible procedural advantage.

Effective October 1, 2015, and applies to offenses committed on or after that date.