Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1916-12-22
THE MUNICIPAL COURT
increase in Costs Due to Trans
fer Of Jury Trials
Reduces Expense of County Court-Re-
ceipts and Expenses About Even,
Aside from Jury Trials.

In connection with recent published
comments regarding the increased cost OF
municipal courts in the state Miss Ethel A
Wilmington, clerk of the Brattleboro NUM-
cipal court, has drawn off some interesting
figures which throw much light on the
why's and whereiores of some of the in
creased cost
She compares in her statement the cost
of the Brattleboro municipal court for II
months from Dec. l. 1914, to Nov. l. 1915
with the II months from Nov. /, 1915, to
Nov |, 1916.
Her statement shows that the net cost
of the court for the IL months was 81 81
to dispose of l4s cases out of l9l entered
in court during that period. During that
time there were no jury cases, for the law
providing for jury trials in the municipal
court has not become operative, or did not
become effective until August, 1915. As
will be shown later, the jury cases tried
this last year have much to do, if not all
with the increased cost of the local court
In the l9l4-l9l5 period of IL months the
total cost of the court was 81. l2462 and
the total income was 81, l22.7l, leaving the
net cost of the court for that period Sl.9l
The expenses for that period included
81 100 for the salary of the Judge; officers
fees in criminal eases, S6lS.69; and witnes,
fees in criminal cases, Sll704. The re
ceipts included S2,O93.7l in fines and costs
in criminal cases and 500 received from
the probation officer SO much for tho
cost of the Brattleboro municipal court il
the ll-months' period.
For the year ending Nov !, 1916, the net
cost of the court was S767.59 The tota
cost was S2,94O54 and the total income
50, 1925. The increase in the expense
was SSl5.02 and in receipts only S5O.24
The collection of fines and costs in crimi
nal cases fell off from S2,003.7l to S2,0l26 81
but $50 more was received from the pro
baton officer, juvenile fines and costs
brought in $500 and there were collected
in civil fees Sl0l.1 rs, against none the ],
months before.
The statement shows, however, that
there were 267 cases entered in court il
the last u months, an increase of Sc. anC
that 1872 were tried, an increase of Al. The
nub of the whole statement is found in the
fact that Is of the cases tried six crimina
and nine civil, were tried by juries. There
by hangs much of the increased cost o
the municipal court but, CORRESPONDENCE
the cost of the Windham county court il
cut down, as will be shown.
The report for the y months ending
Nov. !. last, shows that the Is jury trial,
cost additional the following amounts
Jurors fees in criminal cases. 500 .05
Jurors fees in civil cases. Sl97.2S These
two items are chargeable directly to the
jury trials which were not a part of Tho
previous report. They account for S26O3;
of the increased expense. In the first re
port covering the II months juvenile case;
were not heard in the municipal court, bu,
by the probate court. The expense of the
last y months is increased by juvenile
cases $2809 for officers and witnesses
fees. The judges salary being for /.
months instead OF II, as in the first court
calls for an additional 500, his annua
salary being 81 200 Officers fees in civi
Jury cases, shown only in the second re
port, total $3.50 and incidental expense
are increased in the second report owe
the first SS7 IA, due almost entirely T.
Jury trials in outlying towns, which cal
for the expense OF a hall, expenses of traye
of Judge and clerk and possibly meals 70
Jurors and court officials; certainly the
have in some instances.
This shows generally that the transfe
of many jury cases from the iurisdictio
of the county court to the municipal court
has increased the cost of the municipa
courts, the income of which have nc
been sufficient to keep up with the il
creased expenditures.
But as an offset to this is found the d.
crease in the cost of the county court
has been the custom, because necessary
for County Clerk f. ID. f. Stowe at tn
opening of the county court to max
requsition for $4,000 to pay the juror
who serve at the term in Newfane. Sc
dom has this amount been sufficient I
cover that cost At the last term {
court he made requsition for the usui
amount of $4,000, and when the term W.
concluded he returned about $1,000 OF Il
amount as unused. At least in part
must be considered that the shifting
minor jury cases to the jurisdiction OF IL
municipal courts has reduced the cost {
the county courts and, it would seem, +
far as Windham county is concerned, IL
balance is in favor of the present metho
Doubtless the jury trials in the Bellov
Falls municipal court also have helped +
duce the cost of the jury term at Ne'
fame.