Dylann Roof, 22, who was formally charged with nine counts of murder in state court for the 2015 summer attack at a historic black church in Charleston, S.C., is now requesting to place his fate in the hands of a judge, rather than 12 jurors.
U.S. Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch announced in May that prosecutors will seek the death penalty against Roof.
In response, Roof requested to waive his right to a trial by jury, opting for a bench trial.
A trial by jury typically consists of 12 people who, after hearing the evidence and legal arguments, decide whether the defendant is guilty or not.
A bench trial means a judge solely decides whether the defendant is guilty or not.
“Pursuant to this order, the defendant hereby states that he is willing to waive jury, and to be tried and sentenced by the court,” read the motion filed by Roof’s team of attorneys, cited by USA Today.
The document also states that prior to filing the notice, Roof was informed that the federal government would not approve a bench trial during either stage of his case.
Along with his nine murder charges, he faces 33 federal hate crime and firearms charges. His trial is slated to begin on November 7.
Roof shot and killed nine black church-goers during Bible study at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church on June 17, 2015, which sparked huge social debate about race and gun control in the United States.
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