The right to trial by jury in a court of law is one which may be waived by the person entitled thereto, and such courts are generally authorized to try cases without a jury where both parties consent thereto. In a case so tried, the conclusion of the judge as to the facts takes the place of the verdict of a jury. In criminal cases courts are not usually authorized to proceed without a jury, and it is often stated that jury trial cannot be waived in a criminal case; but there seems to be no reason why if the court is by law authorized to proceed in a criminal case by the consent of the defendant without a jury, such a trial would not be valid. (See above, § 243.)