Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-10-03
French Juries.
tier In Philadelphia Time.

Paris Letter In Philadelphia Time.
Ane,e are many curious things about the
French jury law, and one of these g ~. go ,hs
iiss VI soose Siuaens who are to serve as jurors
during Q Term OF court is made nm There ara
several successful operations to be gone through
Win oeiofe .uc Twelve men who try a case are
selected tor that purpose. The firxt consists in
preparation OF list Of those Wis., "a sses,d
eIeo ~ IT, ~ h,ch Is Jurors. This is done by
commitsee Wnlcn meets in each QUARTER. or sub
de paix and maire of the arronI;ss y, .nc Jug
Gifts representatives in the corn mo-, ia
tour Oh those VINO nave served as Jurors during
members of the committee The o cnT, ,, ,u
places on the list prepared by them the names
81 t mak,ne the % the quarter they
those who have registered their names nc vnser ~
and, Of course, the committee. SO far a. IFS in.
tpsr s3 f. only place
The law declares that only French citizens
upward OF 80 years OF age and in fnii enjoy,
ment OF tne,r cn riedts are SO Qualified and it
who have been dismissed from Office
who have not been rehabilitated. persons uhasa
property is In the hands OF trustees, servantS
and others on wages also those Who are npa
to read and write the French Language boaIS ne
government departments, senator's, denuties
list prepared by the quarter Committee nnW
comes before an reimbursement or ward cn,n
mittee--composed of a judge of the civil court
councillors of the ward-which selects from IL a
certain number of persOns-the number varies
according to the population Of the arrondisse.
ment-to serve as jurors during the ensuing
year.
In this way the Paris court of assizes is SUD.
piled during the month of December with list
of the 5000 persons whom it may call on to do
jury work during the next IL months. On the
first day of every term of the court, that ia to
on the ss Sv
names those of SO persons to serve as jurors dur.
ing the term and four additional names as SUP
Elementary Jurors: This drawing takes place
names are drawn can present such reasons as
they may have for asking to be exempted from
serving: If their reasons ga are considered good
until the full number of 40 is completed and II
is from among these that the jury of 10 which
tries each case is made up during the month.
This is also done in lot, but not in open court
Just before the case begins the judge retires to
his private room, in company with the prose-
accused. The Judge draws the names s one t bs
one, and as he draws them they may be per-
emptorily challenged by either side to the num-
are then empanneled to try the accused Witb.
out there being any further challenge allowed,
no matter on what ground. Before being EN-
they have expressed or formed an opinion as to
the guilt or innocence of the prisoner
After they have heard the case the Jurors re-
tire and begin proceedings with the election of
a 'president" or foreman: Then they proceed
to decide upon their verdict, and as this is done
by majority vote a disagreement Is almost
impossible and rarely if ever occurs Nor do
we have to wait very long tor the verdict, as it
is seldom, indeed, that 1t is not brought in
within an hour after the jury went out Be-
sides finding verdict of guilty or not guilty on
each count separately the jury may, ii they see
fit, accompany their verdict with the finding of
extenuating circumstances. This finding in q
murder case prevents the court from infifcting
the death penalty and in other cases precludes
them from giving the criminal the full measure
of punishment prescribed Tor his Offense.