The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1875-05-20
Abolition Ofthe Jury System.

hDJiittuH Oi LIE JuF9 SJssCA
In England and the United States a
very large proportion of the whole pro-
ccdurc for the trial of actions rests upon
the jury. Without entering into q dis
cGssion OF It's origin which certainly can
be traced to the higher civilization of
Greece and Rome, we simply assert that
the sy stem has outlived lis usefulness,
and should be relcgated to that relative
ly barb&ric past in which 1t had its
source. For centuries, when the people
were free from the corruption incident
10 orr boosted modern civilization, and
the decisions Of & jury were Is just and
untaiuted as the deliberations OF the
AmphyctyOnic Council IL lhci: yearly
meetings AT Delphi. the system was Is
grand in lis undinching sense OF equity,
as it Is possible for human nature 10 be
under the = ost conscientious obligations
Of honor. Now, the whole economy of
its mission is merely an expedient 10
defeat tie very essence OF Justice, and Is
the principal cause OF the great burden
Of debt and taxation under which our
people groan, particularly in our from
tier counties. 1t Is the very fountain
head from which has sprung that olc-
ment of pettifoggery that has so lower
cd tho standard Of the bar all over the
country. Il has been the instrument OF
bringing men before courts without the
most remote conception OF grand prlncl-
pies Of law - lawyers in name alone -
whose only claim to uotoriety Is plauSi-
l. 10 Il ~ nf,4 ,,i
invoctivc in addressing jury, .hen who
were they confined in their arguments
10 an exposition OF lsw points before the
bench, would E.serably fail, and be
driven disgrated from a purified court
chamber, % the ignorance from whence
they c..mc. Look at the expenses OF
tho counties which go to make up the
total Of State, and it will be found that
more than one-half are incurred under
this abominab!e system In the shape OF
fees to the men who compose a jury,
and the thousands and one iacidcntals
accom- panying it. Almost invariably
the counties have to pay the costs, for
seldom is Justice administered by q
modern jury, they are either packed,
bought, or led away by speclous argu-
ments diamctricaliy opposed to the facts,
or amused and prejudiced by the most
abusive personalities affecting the parties
to the suit. 1t is these abuses whlchbave
crept in through long years OF sappIng
lis purity that have damned lis effective
ness We have proof of these assertions
daily in our Justice aud District Courts,
until Tie whole thing has resolved Itself
into a farce, fully appreciated by the
most ordinary intelligence. We believe
the people OF Kansas are ripe for i
change in this branch OF their civil pro
cedure. Connecticut has already struck
the knel Of The present method, by 4
law which leaves the matter 10 the
Judges SO it should be here, and every
where. Increase the size OF our Judicial
Districts by reducing their numbers, put
three men on the bench OF each District
for lie, or. good behavior, give them
ample compensation, and make 1t caEsc
Tor removal. any aspiration 70 political
honOrs. 1t seeking other office, let their
resignation be SRs qua non. The re-
suit OF all this, by u fair approximations
biased upon equitable salaries, would
be reduction OF county expenses IN the
matter OF litigation one-hab - justice to
both State and accusod-an elevation OF
the whole bar in parity and truth, for
no pcttiioggery wonld find place in an
argument before J udgcs--yOu don'iscc II
in the Supreme CouIt-personaiItIeS and
abuse of accused and aceuser would
cea>e-the lar would be argued, and the
facts bearing upon the case. These
would be among the benefits OF ID {
abolition of The present system, and we
hope the next Legislature will take
prompt action in the premises. - Els
lpOrtA Rcp0fter.