Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1905-07-06
The SHEnFFS
Ind THEIR JUR|ES.
Francis b Lee, Trenton True American.


Francis b Lee, Trenton True American.
The Newark Nescs in study of the atti-
tudeof the State Bar Association concern
ing the question Of the proposed scheme to
create jury commissions, asks the question
why it il that South Jersey lawyers hold to
the ssold fashioned plan Of authorizing the
Sheriff7s TO draw grand and petit iuries?''
The Nelps cannot quite understand that
there should be a geographical division on
judicial question Of this kind.
As matter of fact the real reason isl
geographical, and the lies in the inherent
thar exist between the two portions Of New
Jersey. Broadly speaking, north Jersey
was developed under the idea that the
town represented the source Of political
power 1t was the New England inheri-
tence that Influenced just such. communities
as Newark. The town, and later, the city,
became the center Of colonial activity.
In South Jersey, the county was the po-
litical unit. The growth of that portion Of
the State was somewhat like that of the
plantation developments of the Eastern Shore
of Maryland and Of the tide water sections OF
Virginia. The Court House, not the town, or
city, became the center of political infu-
uence And with the growth Of the county
idea, came the personal representative Of
the idea, the individual known as the Sher-
iff.
Both sections have inherited these ideas,
and to-day North Jersey derives its impul-
ses from city, while South Jersey is moved
by rural conditions
In South Jersey the Sheriff is the very
embodiment of the administration Of mat
ters judicial. Chosen, usually, from among
the best men of the county, he carries in
the hollow Of his hand, social and political
weight He is Maryland man, because, by
being known, personally, thoroughout the
length and breadth Of the county, he is
brought in daily touch with his baiiwick
A glance at the old records of the State will
show that ia South Jersey he was known as
the High Sheriff long after this term OF
respect had been forgotten in North Jersey.
The Bar, as a profession, takes its char
acteristics, to a degree, from its environ
ment. In the southern portion Of the State
the Bar sustains the present statutory right
of the Sheriff, from traditional as we'll as
personal reasons The sheriffs haye al
ways drawn grand and petit iuries from,
the days of the Lords Proprietors of the
Province of West New Jersey in North
America therefore, all things considered,
there is no reason, no matter what may be
conditions in Essex, or in Hudson, why the
Sheriffs, representing the county, should
not do so to-day. Furthermore, the Bar
and the Sheriffs have always been closely
associated, by all personal ties that can
exist among privileged classes in communi-
ties, not strongly affected by modern phases
Of life in congested eenters.
In presenting certain historical facts in
answer to the inquiry Of the Newark News,
no attempt has been made to discuss the
merits Of the system Of drawing grand and
petit juries. That this question will be
generally discussed is certain. It should be
thoroughly examined in detail by the Bar
Associations Of both State and county, and
by the public. The statutory position Of
the Sheriffs, and theiI relation to the law
governing their duties, is matter for in
yestigation, as well as the benefits that may
be secured by any change,
Any alteration means the overthrow of
custom and precedent far older than the
beginning Of State life; but this is naught
if the system be wrong The question be-
comes one Of system a1d not one Of individ
nails, and under these conditions an investi-
cation, based upon desire to secure the
best results in the administration Of justice,
may well proceed