Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-05-07
SELECTING JURORS IN EUROPE.
Care Excrciscd-The Service II Oblt-
gatory Under Heavy Penalty.

A European correspondent of the Pitts
burg Dispatch sends TO that newspaper
the following outline of some European
Jaws regarding the jury system employed
BY the respective cOuntrles:
In France the number OF names 10 D.
placed on the annual list for each depart
ment is fixed by law. once year inc
Justice OF the peace, his deputies, ana
The head (maire) Of each ward ,coinmuhel
~ a district lcantOn) meet together anu
draw up list containing double the
number OF names TO which the district
IS entitled. which list Is exposed 10 pubic
view FOR objection during two weeks All
such lists are then sent. with the obJec-
lions. to the president OF the Civil Court
q the country (arrondissemenU. who. with
Me Justice OF the Peace and the County
Council. reduces the number 10 one haIl
by choice and from this ust that OF tme
drawings by lot. Let II here be re,narked
hat IN France, as in all other countries
~ ~. Continent where the jury system
In use. IL Is employed only for criminal
matters. as the European jurists. as
-uie. are strongly opposed 10 trusting tle
complicated matters of civil lie TO jury
trial
GERMANY'S COMPLICATED SYSTEM.
Germany has adopted a most compll-
rated system OF selecting jurors, by the
scti0n OF judges and an elected commits
sion, which would probably surpass the
patience OF any American community.
suffice n 10 saw that by this means the
court where "a crime ~ 10 be uled, is
furnished with the names OF thirty men
eho have been deemed worthy OF the
office Of juror. Service Is obligatory
under a penalty of from to 100 marks,
e. be fixed without appeal by the court.
The law OF the Swiss Confederation pro-
vides for the election every SIX years
Of one juror for every 100 Of the popu-
laii0n; and those elected must serve.
unless they are more than 90 years or
age. or afflicted WIN a chronic sickness
Or other defect which renders them IN
.apacitatec 10 act as juror. From those
elected list Is drawn by the Supreme
Court every year, and sent 10 each cir
cuit. where II Is published. When there Is
to be trial a second list OF ntty-iour
Is drawn by lot IN op,n court from the
names thus received. from which list each
party Is allowed 10 challenge twenty.
leaving fourteen; and from these fourteen
two are drawn by lot. who are present
In the jury-box and sworn Ike the
others bat who have no voice in the
verdict. unless one or other Of the nrst
twelve has by accident or Illness been
rendered incapable Of performing his duty.
ELECTING THE JURORS IN SWiTz-
ERLAND.
The Swiss canton Of Neuchatei has
new code OF criminal procedure. when
has been highly praised by European
jurists. This provides for the election Of
jurors. and from all those elected thirty
eight names are drawn in open cour. FOR
each session. from which the trial Jurors
aalf to each party, until only twelve
remain IL several accused are 10 be tried
n the same session, they may be asked
oy the president Of the court IL they agree
10 be tried by the same jury and In
ease OF affirmative answer they may
consult together on the challenges. SER
vice the jury Is here also obligatory.
subject TO penalty OF from ~ 10 100
francs.
Where the Jurors are not elected. the
law especially provides that persons be-
longing TO certain unworthy ccstegnrles
shall be excluded from the jury list thus
Germany declares incapable OF acting
as Juror all those who have been legally
charged or convicted OF any crime or
insdomeanor which has for result tnc
loss OF the honor rights U1hrenrecn,.)
% citizenship, or Of the possibility OF ad-
mission TO public Office. Servants or those
who receive OF have received within 'nr"e
years help from the poor once are also
excluded.
THE FRENCH SYSTEM.
French law has not only similar general