The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1877-08-17
THE JURY LAW,
AN ACT

of Louisiana, the parish of Orleans
excepted, to determine the Qualitica-
tions Of jurors; to exempt certain per-
sons from serving on juries; to pro-
vide for n Jury Commission in each
parish; to prescribe the manner of
procuring a general venire, and of
drawing juries; to give certain dis
cretionary powers to the District
Judges (; to provide for the summon
dance; for their compensation tax
ing jury costs in civil jury cases.
Section 1. Be it enacted by the Senate
and House OF Representatives of the
State of Louisiana in General Assembly
convened, That the qualification of II
Juror to serve in any of the courts Of
| this State shall be the following To
be u citizen and u bona tide male resi-
dent of the parish in and for which the
court is to be holden for one year next
proceeding such service; not under in
/, terdiction or charged with any infa-
NOUS crime or Offense punishable by
hard labor; provided, that there shall
he no distinction made ON account of
race, color or previous condition of
servitude; and provided, further, that
| nothing in this act shall be SO construed
rs to deprive the Judges of the District
Courts of the discretion to decide upon
! the competency of jurors in particular
cases, when, from physical intirmity or
from relationship within the fourth de-
\ gree, to he computed according to the
civil law, or from ignorance of the
English language and inability to un-
! uerstand the same when read or
spoken, or other cause, the person called
| may be incompetent to. sit upon tue
trial of any particular cause. r,;. ,s-.
Section 2. Be it further enacted, ETC.,
That the following persons shall be ex-
elnpt from serving as jurors; but the
exemption shall be personal to them,
and if they do not themselves claim
the exemption, it shall not be sufficient
cause for challenging any person. ex-
empt under the provisions of this act :
First-The members, the officers and
clerks of the General Assembly during
the sessions of the Legislature and in
| going to or returning from the same.
| Second The Governor, Lieutenant
Governor. State Auditor, State Treasu-
rer, Secretary of State, Superintendent
of Public Education, their clerks and
employees, and all public officers COM
missioned under authority OF the United
States. 4...a;....., ..... ....
Third-The judges and officers of the
| several courts of this State, attorneys
| SbC laws lAAAASIOIS III OAC S9OSpSl3 oAu
physicians actually engaged in the
practice of their profession professors
and school-teachers while employed in
teaching; apothecaries and notaries,
and volunteer tiremen who have been
three years or more in active service.
| Fourth-All persons over sixty years
of age; those who from sickness OF
other physical infirmity may be inca
pacitated from rendering such service,
and those who have served as regular
jurors under this act at any term of the
court during the two years preceding
the time they may be called again as
jurors; the members of the Jury Com.
mission provided for in this act.
Section ). Be it further enacted, etc.
That within thirty days after the frs,
day of July, 1877, the several District
Judges throughout the State, the parish
of Orleans excepted, shall select and
appoint from among the qualified elec
tors of their several parishes, four dis
Greet citizens, good men and true, who
with the Clerk of the District Court
who shall be eX-officio a member there
of, shall constitute Jury Commission
for such parish, and who shall hole
} their Office during the pleasure of tn
District Judge; the evidence of sucl
selection aud appointment shall be en-
tered upon the minutes of the Distric
: Court and before entering upon tn
discharge of their duty each membe
, of the Commission shall take an oatl
faithfully to discharge the duties i'm
. posed on them by this act. Ihre
members of said Commission shall b
a sufficient number to perform the du
ties imposed by this act.
5 Section 4. Be it further enacted, etc
= That within thirty days after their AZ
pointment the members of said Com
mission, or a majority of them, sha
I meet at the office of the Clerk Of tn
District Court, and select from the pei
). sons qualified under this act to serve q
jurors for their respective parishes, tn
;, names of three hundred good and con
t petent men, /, list of whom shall b
= made out by the Clerk, under the 8,
!, pervision of the Commission, and sal
i list shall be kept complete and supple
= mented from time to time, al herei
= after enacted. Each of the names o
said list shall be written by the sal
y Clerk on a separate strip of paper, t.
Q gether with the number of the ward {
n place of residence of such person, an
If the slips of paper SO containing tn
IS names selected shall be placed in a bo
r. r. which shall be labelled ssgeneral venil
box" and after same has been locke
hon ho Iol t<>f +