Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-03-10
THE POLICE COURT.
Its Dignity VIII Increase when the New
Judge IL Appointed.

Judge IL Appointed.
How THE DUTIES WILL DE DIvrDED-cAsEs IN
WHICH IT WILL HAVE FINAL JURISDICTION
wRIrs OF ERROR ALONE CAN TAKE THEN up
ARRANGEMENT OF TIE ROOMS.
In about three weeks the Police Court will
rank in dignity with some other courts. only
the salary of the judges will not be quite as
much. The Police Court after doing business
for about twenty years was virtually declared
unconstitutional, 80 far as the trials of many
cases were concerned, and the only way out of
the difficuity was for Congress TO pass law
changing the mode of trials. This was DONE
and now many persons who heretofore had to
appeal their cases and pay for the appeal in
order TO get q jury trial. cali get such trial
in the first instance and without paying in adj
vance for it. After the LIST Of April, when the
jury is drawn. Lawyer Bacon viii argue to the
Jury what the crime Of larceny is. while Lawyer
Moss will plead for the illegal rum sellers from
across the branch, and it may be that his re-
marks will be addressed to Judge Cahilr' or
Judge Dumont."
Lawyer Gloss will quote law from the books
in that section of "Ole Virginny' where he is
address the jury on questions concerning wo-
mans rights.
The constitutional lawyers who practice there
will have all the opportunity in the world to
read sections of the Constitution to prove that
citizens have the right to bear arms.
GENTLEMEN OF THE JURY.
Judge Miller will then have an opportunity
to say: I'm this case. gentlemen of the jury,
the defendant is entitled to a reasonable doubt
if any doubt exists. &C." and his charge may
be excepted to and motions for n new trial
made. but the case will not us formerly go TO
the Criminal Court, for the Police Court has
final jurisdiction The only way to get trial
reviewed will be BY writ of error, and there are
many of the Police Court lawyers who know
no more about writs of error than they do of
errorless writs, SO that there are not many cases
likely to go up in that way.
The law says that the jurors must be drawn
quarterly. beginning with the first of the year.
and they are TO serve for three months. This
duty. however, docs not exclude them from
duty in the other courts.
Each judge has the same power the other,
and BY dividing up the work the prisoners will
either be discharged or sent to prison earlier in
the day than at present.
The number OF days that the jury will be in
attendance depends wholly upon the number
the policy people all demand jury trials there
VIII be work enough to last a jury several days
when they convene.
WHY'RE COURT WILL BE HELD.
Under the law the judges hold court simulta-
neously and they will he in the same building.
The trials by jury will be in the court room
proper while the trials BY the Judge only will
probably be held in one of the large rooms in
the FAINT building, which was rented some time
ago Tor court purposes. On the upper floor
there are rooms which can be utilized for jury
rooms, but 1t is the intention OF Judge Miller,
when he presides. to prevent long delays and
hung juriss ana have them render their YER
diets without leaving the box which he claims
can be done with fairness to all concerned.
Which judge is to have the first jury court
Will be determined after the second judge quail
lies. In case he is appointed before the jury is
drawn, but as Judge Miller will be the senior
J Judge he will probably have the honor Of in
structing the first juries
With prosecutions under this. law the docket
IN the Criminal Court will be decreased consId-
erably, and ii is thought that in the course of
year or two District Attorney Cole will succeed
IN having all Of the pending cases disposed Of