The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1894-12-20
Give Us GOOD Juries.

EDITOR AkIMA HERALD livery kOOC
citizen was placed under obligations to
THE YAKIMA HERALD by the publication
in its issue of the 18th inst, Of the able
article under the above heading. No
subject more imperatively demands most
careful consideration and efforts at refor-
nation. Our entire system OF jurisprud-
ence needs revision. Compromise yer.
diets are rendered almost every term
Jury failing to agree on amount of dam
ages to be awarded; tired out, Disguised
with wranglipg and contention; each one
writes down amount he thinks the YER
diet should be-from nothing 10 tbous
ands Of dollars. The foreman of the jury
adds the amounts, divides the total by
twelve, and that is the verdict presented
to the court.
A Juror has u real or imaginary cause
OF offence against one OF the attorneys in
the suit, and to spite him, utterly ignor-
ing all evidence will insist on n verdict
for the other side. The obstinate juror
for the sake of the momentary import
ance he attxins, will stand ont agains,
the other eleven, no matter how clear the
case. how positive the evidence, anC
worry the others into acquiescence. OF
hang the jury, defeating justice and often
involving the county in heavy expense,
needlessly increasing taxation.
Professional jurors are a most pestilen
tial evil; men who loaf around the court
room awaiting exhaustion of the regular
panel and order of special venire. There
are lawyers who never lose case, il
they can exhaust the panel and have one
or two jurors from the professional jury
men. Even when just verdict is rem
dered against the wealthy the attorney
hobs up serenely and appeals, and OF
some frivolous teehnicality obtains nev
trial. Ii the other side is too poor to fol
low the case to the higher courts, despit,
the honest verdict in their favor, they arr
mulcted in costs and lose their case.
But not alone jury box and bar. The
bench is equally in need of reformation
From justice OF the peace 10 the chief jus
tice of the United States, ability and in
tegrity have ceased to be the qualifica.
tons. Egotisticsl bastit
| ignorance are all too oft chosen Justice O
the peace.
The really able lawyer has no incentive
to accept position on the bench. II,
cannot realize tithing Of the amount h,
would gain by practice at the bar, and i
has long since ceased 10 be an honor
hence third or fifth rate lawyers-politi
| cal pettyioggers. experts at all the dirt,
| tricks and chicanery Of politics secur'
the nomination for judge, and by the aiC
and influence OF wealthy corporations
are selected, and become servile, sordiC
| tools, the hirelings OF the corporation t
whose help they look for future poitica
| prefermeDt.
| The very judges OF the supreme court o
the United States are not appointed be
| cause of their ability and ack wledged
integrity, but as reward for dirty work
done, and to be done, in behalf of tn,
president who appoints and his faction y
the party.
How can these evils be remedisd7 w,
have naval academy at Annapolis anC
a military academy at West Point, TO ed
cuate suitable young men to form tn,
nucleus OF the officers Of our navy anC
army. This is right and should be con
| tinued. We may not have another Wal
| ia 100 years, we are sure OF 100 lawsuit,
within a month.
Why not in each division OF our stat,
establish a judiciary academy for tn,
| purpose OF education carefully selected
young men Who should pass rigid ex
animation as to their mental and physi
cal ability, as jurists. To be for life tn,
wards OF the government, debarred from
| ever practicing law in the United States
except in their own defense.
| When the court calls for jury let tn,
sheriff summons sufficient number o
| graduated pupils Of the academy, ak Il
compose jury. Every honest litigant
every honest lawyer would sooner hav,
jury OF six such trained iurists Their,
would be more certain justice and fewe
| appeals.
| Pass a Law that candidates for justices
OF the peace must he selected from grad
yates OF the judiciary academy who haC
served not less than one wear as Jurors
Candidates for superior court from thos,
who had served not less than one year q,
! Justice OF the peace. Candidates for stat,
supreme court from those who had served
not less than two years as judges Of super
Tor court. Member. of supreme court o
| the United States 10 he elected from theil
own number by judges of the state SUI
preme courts. Each graduate would bs
provided for by the state Tor life--the goa
OF their ambition the office OF the chic
Justice OF the supreme court of the United
States
This system would save thousands o
dollars each wear over present methods o.
summoning and paying Jurors: cleanse
aud purify our judiciary, promote Justice
greater respect and ready obedience t6
law. CT RpvSoTns