Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1899-02-01
THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY
RkLL.

likely 10 pass TIE Socudtc anu Will
then be messaged to the House
where its troubles will begin. 1t
is known as the District Attorney
bill, and it deprives District At
torneys of the power, that they
now possess, of standing aside jur-
the law now exists District AttOr-
neys have the right to stand aside
Jurors in cases of both felOnies a. d
misdcmeanors. 1t is right that
has come down through the ages
and is known to have been in use
in the Kings Court in England
more than six hundred years ago.
BY its use the kings counsel was
enabled to select such jury as
was desired by the Crown, in other
words. conviction could be Sc
cured in any case desired, for it
virtually, amounted to the selec-
tiOn by the ling of the defendants
jury. In this country, the defend
ant charged with a felony is en-
titled to twenty peremptOry chal-
lenges, and is not limited to the
number for cause the, latter being
under the supervision of the Court.
Iii like cases the Commonwealth,
represented by the District AttOr-
ney, is entitled to four peremptory
challenges, and the right to stand
aside jurors which may afterwards
be accepted by the Commonwealth
or forced upon the defendant if his
20 challenges are exhausted. This
practice is usually employed only
in murder cases. The method of
procedure is as follows: A juror
is called and is examined by the
Distric. Attorney as to his know
ledge of the case a d as to whether
he can render a verdict in accord
ance wit the testimony and the
charge of the Court. If his an
swers are satisfactory to the Dis
trict Attorney he can do one Of
two things either stand him aside
or turn him over to the defendant,
who must either accept him or
peremptorily challenge him. There
sS..sS,':,z.As.T in rorS
.Narie Antaszs1ee isspS J"rors
drawn in cd a5tfnties in an
oyer and terminer panel, which
tries cases of felony. In The ci les
;he panels con'ain six v men.
Now if the Dis ric. Attorney is
homes and unprejudiced, when he
examines a juror and finds him
"a isfac DRY he should turn him
over to the defendant who can
Ell her accep him or use one of his
peremp DRY challenges, as The de
fendan in felonies has twen'y.
In panels of for y-eighl men he
has an equal chance in he selec-
ton of the jury, for while he Dis
irict A. Orney can s'ard aside
jurors, We if he pai ell is exhaus
ed before 'he jury is selected, hose
iha have bee OOd aside mus be
called a, d if he defe. dapt has Lot
'eXhaus ell his challenges he can
challenge until they are exhaus ed,
whel he must accept them u less
;he COmmO, wealth sees fit to use
al v or all of is four challenges.
But i'll misdemear ors he defeud-
at has bu. four peremp Dry CT al
lei ges, al d ary Ote can see low
easy il would be for corrups or
prejudiced Dis ricS Arrorrey TO
take advantage of a defe daut.
Say there were for y men in the
pa 81 from wi icl the jury was to
be drawn to try the defe. daut
TIE Dis rict Attorney informs the
'Cour that he will exercise bis
rig.t I'LL der TIE law TO S acd aside
jurors. He eXami es the first mao
fl lis e will 10 his opiuiou make "a
goods Juror. He url i'm over o
the defe dart wIO sees in him a
dangerous juror. Tie defendant
cl alleuges i'm. O.e of bis four
'ctalle ges is row go bur three
remair. Al other juror is examin-
ed, Re suis s the Dis rict A,tOr, ey,
is C. allie ged by the defe, da It ard
80 on until his four challenges are
20 vie he must accept WI Oever
tie Dis rics A'tor. ey chooses 10
fur over 20 him FIR the Dis ric'
-Attcri ey bavirg the power, will
-s!a Il aside a v ma who d es moi
entirely sui | i'm. Tuis power ba,
1ever> been exercised in cases O
I.isdeh.oan, rs, by auy Dis. rict A.
tori ey in Ju ia'a c~uuty a.d W
have reliable itformati N tba. j
has lever beei exercised i1 tb
adj i'irg counties. 1t is me
times exercised by Dis rict Attol
neys in lhe large ci les. Pelnsyl
va ia AID South Carvlil are th