Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-12-26
WOULD HAVE LESS JURoR&
And the Judgment OF Three-fourths Of
Them RENDER verlfcs

kA11o &kxQ ~ o&AM s4A<A8& ~ &84&0~4VM4&4A0 VI
Them RENDER Verdict
Judge Vernon Smith Of Ionia, II q man
whose judgment 10 respected wherever
he 10 known. He recently expressed, In
q newspaper interview, his opinion Of
the present jury systsm and Of Justices
court, thus:
I'VE often hear criticisms made % to
the conduct OF business Ia court, a. 70
the delay OF trying cases and waste OF
time Doubtless there IL time wasted
but no Judge can ever entirely remedy OF
prevent it. We also hear criticisms on
the jury system. Some would abolish IL
altogether. But my experience has
taught me that jurors attempt TO do
what they believe 10 right Corruption
Of juror 10 exceptional and rarely &C.
curA Ii would be grave responsibility
TO place upon one man. to ask him 20
determine all questions Of fact submitted
to jury for its decision, and no Judge
ought to assume the responsibility.
Perhaps some better system ought to be
adopted to try questions Of fact that are
tried In court, but ] would not wholly
abolsh the jury system. would i'm
prove il. Some system ought 70 be
adopted whereby the best and mcst in
telligent men Of Q community could be
obtained as jurors.
Then, I would lessen the number of
Jurors III We could have better class
OF men a. jurors We could get along With
less number than now and reach bet
ter results ut lees expense TO the
county. Having the beat citizens for
Jurors and having less number would
permit in all civil cases the verdict Of
three-fourths Of the jurors 70 be the
verdict OF the Jury. / believe this In
time will be the rule. I have in MAD
now q piece Of land worth elA IL was
tued three times In the circuit court q
cost Of 600 10 each Of the litigators.
The Jury disagreed each time and then
the parties settled 10 between them
selves. II three fourths Of the Jury
could have rendered the verdict the
case would have been promptly and
equitably settled In the frat instance
Nov q word a. 20 appeal cases A
great many cases come 10 the circuit
court, being appealed frou the justice
court Nov. In the 6rss place, II I
could. ] would reform and revise the
justice system; tal By reducing the
number OF justices; tb) By abolishing
the fee system. No man ought ever
20 try q law suit when bic pay de-
psnds somewhat oa the result Of the
case Such a condition or contingency
ought 90 Be dope away with Having
provided the litigants . competent
court, one which decisions would not
b. biased By any fes system. would In
cases where the amount involved was
onIy ei0 90 90 permit no appeal TO
the circuit court IL 10 the duty Of the
people 10 give parties having suits 10
try, the right 10 have their cases oncs
fairly tried, but the amount involved
and the ratio Of that 10 the erpsnss
which the people must pay 30 try the
Csc ought 10 Determine how far man
should be permitted 10 carry bic case.
This IL q principle which prevails 10 the
courts OF the United ststsa II IL a
priacipie that ought aud viii prevail In
other coufis.
@0eatiensn. the courts Of your state
are sn important part at the govern
msnt Your dearest interests and most
sacred rights are often submittsd to
them. hence they deserve more stten-
ton than they rscsive fron The people.
There should be public opiniol cult
waited that would ,lsvsts them wholly
above pkrtisanship aud encourage
purity, uIrixhtness and ability