Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1917-02-01
TAMPERING WITH THE JURY SYSTEM.

TAMPERING WITH THE JURY SYSTEM.
bill has been introduced in the present session of the
Idaho legislature which sought charge the burden
expense of trials of civil causes the moving
gan and to fix the fees of trial jurors part of the costs
assessed and entered in the Judgment Under the bill IN
procure trial jury the party desiring would be
forced give bond insure the trial of his by his peers
and he person of small financial MEANS he would
forced many instances waive trial by jury and sub
trial by the unless he could provide the bond
This statement in itself will establish the vicousness OF
such provision and the in itself indicates that is
aimed the majority of the people, and framed for
the benefit of that smaller numberpeope and corporations OF
meanswho jury trial should be desirable would be
placed inconvenience and would meet the barrier of
limited financial means in procuring jury.
It is always safe to assert that when any in
roduced any attempt is made to tamper with alter the
SYSTEM that the prompted by those who
advocates of popular government and justice but those who
seek to limit the rights of popular of the people,
by the people and for the people the interest of the privileged
few Of more fortunate circumstance and means
The system has its origin the early struggles of the
serf the vassa and the slave liberty justice It's
origin is lost in the obscury of the middle ages. be
traced back into the early days of English history and there
good evidence to believe that it institution made
of by the Saxon though at that time the practices and
uses had little sembance to modern trials It replaced the
crdeas of the burning ron of fire. of trial by and
bat and the auocra judgment and sentence of King
and noble It is the institution adopted and recognized by the
enlightened nations of the earth Though ancient in
origin has stood the test of centuries and is still retained
today So jealous early legislators and the trainers
of the constitution of the privilege of the trial by jury that
accused of crime be deprived of trial by jury
And while arguments sometimes offered against the
jury system promoting judgment by sentiment and that
bought and brbed and that they made the
ignorant and the of yet there but who
the decision of questions of fact would rather submit his
the decision of twelve peers than to the Judge whose
mind engaged sufficiently by the questions of law and pro-
ceedure And there less likelihood of jury being bought
than there is of judge being influenced brbed and corrupted
At least would appear difficult to bride the majority of
twelve men, than to bride
The matter of fixing part of the costs for jury service
upon gants trials of civil and disputes would not be
vicious if reasonable and states have provision for
the payment of $40 $15 jury trials much the the
filing fee fixed The present bill introduced in the egisla
ture goes the limit and would seek place the whole of
the jury upon the plaintiff moving party prior to obtaining
judgment But no fees should be charged
Jures must be summoned for trials of criminal offenses
Criminal usually take precedence in order of hearing
Therefore would be than just costs for
service fixed upon tgans civil suits that equitable
allowance for jury service criminal actions be allowed and
the difficulty in arriving at this be appreciated hous
and difficulties would present themselves and the result would
be chaos and eparabe damage to rights and the
of justice
thousand arguments be made for leaving the Jury
system is but there few if any, that be made
for the proposed scheme presented by the bill introduced
should be killed One Idaho legislator Representative
has taken steps to investigate the ACCESSIBILITY of the
measure letter to him pronouncng your sentiments would
not be amss The only maintain popular law and
tce is to register dsapprova attempt destroy them
Kill the bill