Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-06-10
THE JURY SYSTEM.


vested rights of every American citizen. It
is guaranteed by the fundamental law of the
land, is maintained in all its integrity by the
courts, and superstitiously guarded by every
man, woman and child in the republic. It
is a privilege accorded to the lowly as well
as the high born, and any attempt to inter
fere with or abridge it is invariably met
with an Indignant protest.
But to be candid, laying aside all precon-
ceived ideas, can any observant man claim
that the jury system is all that it was de-
signed to be? Those who have practiced in
the courts assert that fully fifty per cent of
the jury trials result either in disagreement
or verdict so palpably unjust that the re-
versal of the decree is immediate upon the
presentation of the case to higher court.
It not infrequently happens that the law
and the evidence are both set aside by jnries,
and a verdict prompted wholly by the SYM
pathies or prejudices Of the jurors is rem
dered. In such cases the additional expense
of an appeal to higher court is forced
upon the litigant who may be injured.
The greatest expense to the State, how
ever, is involved in the frequent disagree
ment of juries. Every such disagreement
involves new trial, in which the whole
ground of dispute has to be gone over again,
while the people and the litigants are taxed
for court expenses and costs. And it gen
orally happens that these disagreements are
brought about through the obstinacy of one,
two or three Jurors, who persist in disregard
ing the evidence or wilfully allow themselves
to be swayed by personal sympathy or inter
est. This abuse is growing daily, and in
pools by large odds Ito use sporting
phrase is disagreement. Reform in this
direction is loudly demanded. The bill in
troduced in the last legislature of this State
providing that the concurrence of three
fourths of a jury shall constitute verdict
partially meets the case. 1t will prevent the
obstruction of the public business by the OBJ
stinacy. prejudice or self-interest of single
man on a jury, which has become such
prolific source of complaint. Juries, as
rule, are composed of intelligent men, but
there is seldom one impaneled upon which
there is not some man who canpot compre-
bend the simplest proposition of law or dis
criminate between the true and false in evil
dence. That juries will ever be abolished
We do not expect, although it would
be much better and cheaper for
ltigants as rule to submit their
cases to an honest and impartial Judge
than to jury, no matter how intelligent,
while the ends of justice would be far better
served. The attention of legislators is di-
rected to the desirability of some change in
the jury system which shall correct some of
its many abuses.
While on this subject we may be allowed
to direct the attention of the authorities of
Ramsey county to the miserable accom-
modations for juries which our court house
affords After sitting for days, perhaps, on
hard wooden chairs listening to mess of
stupid evidence, dry argument and unin-
telligible expositions (?) Of law, the jury is
packed off into room eight by twelve feet
and held as prisoners there until they reach
verdict or come to the conclusion that they
cannot agree. The room is oppressive with
foul odors, far too small, and wholly unfit
for the accommodation of twelve men.
While in the jury room they are practically
prisoners. Their enforced confinement
should, at least, be made as pleasant as that
of the felons occupying cells in the county
Jail.