The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1877-07-04
THE NEW JURY LAW

though better late than never we
have borrowed the book containing
the "Acts passed by the General AS
sembly of the State of Louisiana at
the first session of the fifth Legisla-
ture, begun and held in the City of
New Orleans, January ], 1877, and
at the Extra Session, convened at
the City of New Orleans, March 2,
1877" and on perusal thereof find
that Act "A, approved March s, 1877,
is a new Jury law for the whole
State, the Parish Of Orleans except
ed, and that this new law entirely
wipes out the old system and enacts
O new one. .......
Our simple aim just new is to pub
lish summary of this law for the
knowledge of our people, and not for
the purpose Of viewing it with cri
ties eye, though we must be permit
ted to state our conviction, that
though it may be intended as re-
form measure and an improvement
on the old law, still we consider it a
terrible innovation of stated rights
and considerable and important pow
err placed in one mans hands to dele
gate to four individuals Of his choice,
which may be easily worked into a
powerful lever of injustice and op-
preston. To say the least Of it now
it is risky departure from the old
safe landmarks, which have worked
rather well for nearly century, but
for the present we will not moralize
but proceed with our main object.
Section / of the Act reads thus
"That the qualification of a. juror to
serve in any of the Courts of this
Estate shall be the following: To be 8
citizen and bona fde male resident
of the Parish in and for which the
Court is to be holden for one year
next preceding such service; not un-
der Introduction or charged with any
infamous crime or offense punishable
by hard labor; provided that there
shall be no distinction made on &C
count of race, color or previous con
dition; and, provided further, that
nothing in this act shall be so con-
strued as to deprive the Judges Of
the District Courts of the discretion
to decide upon the competency ofju.
rors in particular cases, when, from
physical infrmity Or from relation
ship within the fourth degree, to be
computed according to the civil law
or from ignorance of the English
Language and inability to understand
the same when read or spoken, OF
other cause, the person called may
he incompetent to sit upon the tria
of any particular cause" ~
Now follows the three other Sec
tions of the Act which we give il
full, for they cover the whole law ane
will give our readers the informntio.
we intend for them: a,
Sec. 3. Be it further enacted, etc.
That within thirty days after the Is
day of July, eighteen hundred ane
seventy seven, the several Distric
Judges throughout the State, the Pa
rish of Orleans excepted, shall selec
or appoint from among the qualified
electors of their several Parishes
four discreet citizens, good men ane
: true, who, with the Clerk of the Dis
trict, who shall be ex.officio mem
Der thereof, shall constitute a Jur,
Commission for such Parish, AMI
who shall hold their office during tn
} pleasure of the District Judge; tn
, evidence Of such selection and ap
pointment shall be entered upon tn
minutes Of the District Court; ant
before entering upon the discharge o
their duty each member of the Com
mission shall take an oath faithful,
to discharge the duties imposed OF
them by this act. Three member
of this Commission shall be a sum
cient number 10 perform the duties
imposed by this act. ..-..
| Sec. 4. Be it further enacted, etc.
That within thirty days after thei
appointment the members of sale
Commission, or majority of them
shall meet at the Office of the Clerl
of the District Court, and select from
the persons qualified under this &C
to serve as jurors for their respective
Parishes, the names of three hun
dred good and competent men, a lis
of whom shall be made out by the
Clerk, under the supervision of the
Commission, and said list shall b.
kept complete and supplemented
from time to time, as hereinafter en-
acted. Each of the names on said
lists shall be written by the sale
Clerk on separate slip Of paper, TO-
gether with the number Of the ward
or place Of residence of such person
and the slips Of paper so containing
the names selected shall be placed in
a box, which shall be labelled "gene.
raj venire box" and after same has
been locked and sealed it shall be de-
livered to the Clerk of the Court az
the custodian thereof, and said boz
! aha1t not no onenad for any nprnosn