The Baltimore County union., 1882-12-02
MODE OF sELEoTrNo JURORS.

We do not wish 10 be considered eaptious, nor
aetua,sd BY spirit Of fault-hnding, but In this
age when reform seems to be the active principle
guiding and controlling alIparties thFOughOu. tho
country, We deem the present atting oppOrtuni-
~ TO offer some suggestions In regard to the
manner Of selecting jurors with view to correct
a long standing evil, an evil, which, from recent
indications, u likely TO be perpetuated. wehave
long entertained the opinion that the privilege
granted attorneys Of submitting a list Of names
Of jurors for the consideration Of the judges Is
wrong in principle wrong in practice. calculated
TO defeat the ends Of justice, and In direct con-
hiei with the spirit and intent Of the law regula-
ting the drawing of juriss.
The code provides that the panel for Baltimore
county "shall consist Of two hundred persons TO
be fairly aud impartiaiy selected by the judges
from the list Of white male taxable inhabitants Of
the age Of twenty-five years and upwards, and
from the poll-books fled In tho Clerks Office, tho
said jurors to be selected with special reference TO
their intelligence, sobrie,y and integrity, and
without the least reference to their political
opinion" Now these conditions being manda-
torory on the judges, why should they not be
equally obligatory on the members Of the bar?
Perhaps they are but as yet We have failed to
make the discovery. This VIC do know that Of
those attorneys pTacticing bclorethc Circuit Court
Of this county, who have enjoyed this privilege Of
suggesting names of persons TO act rs jarors, in
almos, every instance the list comprised none but
eiisHts or political frieRds. Rumor has Il that n
nameless one has been 50 fortunate in the draw
ing Of his friends that at least fourth Of the
full compliment Of jurors attribute their distine-
ton 10 his successful strategy.
We apprchcnd that such condition Of affairs
should not be tolerated aud We feel convinced in
our own minds that Il will not receive the sane
tion Of the present Court. II We understand the
Law prescribing the mode and regulating the
manner of selecting jurors the spiri, and intent
Of the law will be enforced and sscrcdly executed
by those In power. We are fully aware Of the fact.
and do not hesitate 20 make the admission. tha,
there exist. In our county certain class Of Ito cit,
iEcns who arc prone 90 seek positions on the jury
and who do not hesitate to make known their
wishes in this particular. whilst also there is
another class. who almos, invariably seek to avoid
the performance of such duties, who, as a class,
are most likely to be affected to their dctrimen,.
To this We answer, enforce the Law. II Is broad
enough and deep enough to cover the whole
ground. lie. our judges a, the proper time. (Which
VIC think will be a, or before the next ensuing
term Of Court make il their duty previously to
ascertain the qualifications ani eapability of,hOse
whom in their wisdom they may deem proper per-
sons AMI suitable for jurors TO be taken from the
certified list returned by the Clerk TO the County
Commissioners and the poll-bOok' on Gle 10 the
Clerk. office of the county. Then. without con
sutation with interested attorneys or spectators.
le; them perform their duty their whole duty
der the iaw--ani the people Of this county. with
one v0i,c. will applaui them.