The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-03-18
Judge Redfield on a Jurors Duty

Hon. Timothy L. Hedneld nj the open
ing of the March term Of The Washington
county court, addressed the jury substan-
TALLY as follows:
In beginning, he alluded to the impor-
lance of Il jurors position, which he said
was second To no public Office in the state,
sitting, as they did. arbters of justice be-
tween man aud man. No more conspicu-
Gus or prouder instance of the beneficence
of our free institutions could he produced
than the jury system, which made the
people themselves the guardians of rights
and Liberties, and which had been accepted
Tor generations as the most perfect tribunal
of justice ever devised by man. He allud-
ed to the fact that many of those that were
listening to him had served as Jurymen
before, and that therefore he need take but
little time in explaining to them their
duties. There was only one subject to
which he would call their attention par
ticuarly. There might be, and probably
would be, matters of criminal nature
coming before them, and it was fit that
they should have a due conception of the
important duties thus devoving upon
them. He himself deemed il the most i'm
portant duty that occurred in social and
civil life, that twelve men should come
from their homes aud daily avocations,
and fiually determine mans right to
his liberty, and possibly 10 his life.
He continued: "Your oath is, that you
will truly Try an issue by the evidence
in court. The American people are emf
nently social They have business rela-
lions with most everybody. 1t is innocent
in its character, but the law supposes that
when you take upon yourselves the duties
aud obligations of jurors, you will try cases
by the evidence that comes into court, and
not by the current Of public opinion that
you will not allow any of those influences
10 affect you, that often in matters of bust
ness and social relations influence the best
minds. In times OF excitement many peo-
pie deem it impossible to refrain from ex-
ertipg their social influence on their fellows,
although they are Jurors. Now it all rests
with you. Let the public understand here,
| that whoever either careessly or purposely,
| undertakes to state his opinion as to wheth-
| or peraon is guilty or not guilty, whether
a man has right to his property or not
| let it be understood that such talk in your
| presence will be considered an insult to
| you and your office. You are not only to
| reSuke it, but you are to give people to un-
| dertand that you cannot be offended in that
way; that there is to be no talk in your
presence about it, because it is unfit and
| Improper. do not believe that in this
community, although men are said to have
committed crimes and great crimes, while
every Juror is indignant that such crimes
as jeopardze property and life should have
| been committtd--I do not believe tina,
there is any juror on this panel that has
read the accounts of the crime, who is moi
ready to take the evidence anew, TO dis.
card all the testimony from the mind, and
scrutinize and weigh the testimony as men
under oath, having due regard to theil
| oaths, should act with resolution to give
the accused the benefit of any real doub
that may arise upon consideration of the
case, and, on the other hand, with deter
mination that no influence shall deter yor
from recording u verdict based on the truth
whether it plea.es your friends or offend!
them. Gentlemen, if on your oaths anc
conscences You believe your decision to bt
true, you must stand by it although it il
unpopular stand by it because 1t is true.
81 will take no more time with these sug
ges,ions, except TO say that there are ar
unusual number of criminal cases on thu
docket Of the court, and that statements
have been made that this locality canno
try respondent fairly and honestly IN tn,
face of hostile public sentiment If sucl
feeling exists against any respondent wh'
may be brought to the bar of this court fo
trial, you viii do both yourselves and tn,
court service by causing it to be understood
throughout the community that all thi
common talk in our presence is not onl,
improper, but criminal and unlawful
When the community understands from
your conduct, what your opinion is on thi
subject, they will abstain from all careles
remarks in your hearing. All that is ne
cessary Is that high public sense of the i'm
portance of maintaining an Independent
adjudication causes in court, which has al
ways obtained in our community"