The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-11-23


Should Insist on Service.
Robert Armstrong: II am OF opinion
/ that the best way to remedy any defects
which may be found in our jury system
as 1t exists at present, is to adhere more
strictly TO the provisions OF the code as
to tho formation of said jurios. The
statutes in relation thereto are sufflci
emily comprehensive to prevent The in
convenienceS alluded 70 il they wore
but rigidly complied with and strictly
enforced by the courts. The readiness
with which flimsy, plausible EXCUSES
are given to evade this important duty
OF jury service is q matter to DO deeply
deplored, and If our courts would refuse
to release juror from service except
upon such grounds as tho law recognizes
as good legal and sufficient excuse,
wo would Oftener find our juries repre-
senting much of the best business Elk.
perience and Judgment of our city.
Very grave matters are often submitted
to the decision OF iuries. and it is highly
important to the success full administra.
ton OF justice in our courts that our
most capable business men should lend
their experience and Judgment to the
Accomplishment of this end, and refrain
from Sinking duty which the inter
ests OF justice and the welfare of the
rigidly enforce the laws requiring jury
service from those who are summoned
on the various venires, we should hear
little or no complaint as to tho char.
acter OF said jurors
Believes 1t VIII Bring Reform
S. e. Jones: 1.-THE TIMES, IN its Sunday
article on the jury system, only gave ex
preston TO what has been in the mind
OF almost every lawyer in the city.
Since have been practicing law here
before the courts 1 have noticed the
same men on the jury almoss every
term of the court, and while l have no
word OF blanc for the SO called pro.
feSsionaf juror, yet do think that the
same mon should not sorve in this ca
pacity week in and week out, term in
and term out of tho courts here, or else
whore. ! believe that the most intelli-
gent, thrifty and worthy citizens in the
city, or community, should be required
to do jury duty.
''One great cause OF this PROFESSIONAL
jury system, so justly complained of by
lie TIMES, Is the inadequacy of the pay
that juror receives. IL is Insufficient
TO justify business man abandoning
his business and giving his tino to de-
Gliding cases submitted to him in the
courts, and 1 agree with tho expression
from other attorneys, who have said that
the best remedy for excluding these
professional jurors, is to reduce tho
number from twelve TO six and increase
tho pay, thus making the compensation,
in some measure, sufficient 10 Justify
the busy IL an in leaving his business in
the hands of others and perfor ming jury
duty. do not understand why six men
could not decide any common law case
submitted to them as we'll. or perhaps
better, than twelve men, and this strikes
me as being one way out Of the difficult
ties that now confront us.
Professional juries are not confined
to Roanoke city only. / have scarcely
ever attended q court in any OF the
county seats where these seekers after
jury duty are not always in attendance
on the courts, awaiting the summons by
the sheriff to sit as jurors. The pro
fessional juror picks up, from constant
attendance on the courts, very mac
curate knowledge of the law and there.
by becomes troublesome factor in the
deciding of cases that are submitted to
him, and have known eleven men to
agree on their verdict and the twelfth
man to fail and refuse to acquiesce in
their decision, thus Causing hung Jury
and another trial attended with ali it's
expense and time and trouble. | think
it would be far batter to have three, or
six or nine sensible business men to
serve as jurors, and allow no Juror to
serve more than few days or week at
the outside, in any one term OF our
courts.
1T is very natural thing for man
who is engrossed in business to shirk
jury duty, and thus shift this RESPONSE
billty on the shoulders of men who have
no business and who are idlers and are
anxious even to receive tho small pit
lance that comes to them as jurors; but
l heartily agree and concur in Sundays
article published in The TIMES, and
believe that it will produce retorma-
ton in the jury system, at least in tho
city of Roanoke. l do not mink that
tho law is carried out to the letter in
tho selection of jurors, and there is
fault just thore. New men should be
selected at each term of the court, and,
as have said. only require these mon
to servo a short time
Citizens Should Serve When Summoned.
John W. Woods, Judge Of tho Hastings
Court, in substance, said that if there Is
any evil i'll the present jury system it
grows out OF one of two things either
the parties summoned do not appear or
the officers do not go out of the court
room 10 supply INC uenclencleS. The
remedy is with the citizens II they
want business jurors they should, when
summoned, respond and attend to the
business of the court and that then
there need not be so many repeaters out
of the regular list Of 800.
One Of the Greatest Evils.
D. s. Good: II am very glad to see
that you are agitating this matter Of the
'DrOfek SfOnal Juror In nv Oninion thiQ
is one OF the greatest evils existing.
rCha hat al az onlo.- thar hn4