The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-03-06
CRIMINAL JUSTICE.

The astounding verdict In the case of Jim
White, to which we have referred III terms Of
denunciation az one Of the most dlsgraceful
ever rendered In the courts, has provoked uni
vef'sai Indignation throughout the commune
| ty and d close scrutiny Of tho composition Of
jury panels and the mode Of their selection.
1t required just such an example TO illus
trate the ineflic1ency Of the present system
Of forming our iuries, or the grave unfltness
of those who are charged with It's administers
| tlon. Both should be changed. Instead Of the
| commissioners being selected from the class
of persons seeking office and places, with sal
| aries and emoluments attached and appointed
by the Judges Of the District Court; they
should be chosen from the class Of our most
discreet citizens, Of large and intimate knowl-
edge Of Our people : their Office should be
purely honorary, and their term of service
should DO under the control Of the appoint
ing power. That power should be the Exec
utive. These commissioners should be
charged to select from the list Of voters and
citizens the requisite number Of qualified
persons, taking care to include therein only
the reputable and law abiding class Of our
citizens. The names of these citizens should
be drawn, as prescribed by The present law.
for duty In the several courts Tho number
of these jurors should always be large enough
TO prevent the possibility of exhausting the
panel and calling on talesmen
We learn that a law making these changes
has been presented to our Legislature. This
law embodies other changes in our system Of
criminal administration which We think
would promote liz efficiency. One of these
contemplates the equalization Of the peremp-
tory challenges. giving the State az large a
number as the accused.
With these and other changes and by re-
pealing subscriptions from jury duty, which
exclude SO large number Of our best citi-
sens, and by supplying the prosecuting OIL
celp with q force Of special policemen and
detectives to procure the necessary testimony
and prevent the departure of important wit
nesses, q more prompt and vigorous enforce
ment of our criminal laws and justice may be
secured; and this security is of the utmost
Importance to the prosperity and well-being
Of our community.
When life. limb and property are rendered
as they always are when the laws
are SO loosely and irregularly enforced. no
will progress and increase in
and population. 1t cannot be de-
MED that we do not enjoy this sense Of
security In this city. Criminals too often
escape and even resume their positions
among decent people, who in better regu-
lated communities would be required to ex-
plate their otfenses on the gallows or within
the walls Of the penitentiary at hard labor
Should the recent frightful immunity ex-
tended by twelve jurors TO one Of the most
audaclous and defiant murderers who ever
tisgraced his race and community be- exer-
csed toward other like offenders there would
arise similar exigency to that which COM
PEELED tho people Of San Francisco to set
aside the regular tribunals and remit the |
Of criminal justice to vigil |
ance committees.