The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-01-01
To the Editor of The Age-Herald:

To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
 I noticed in The Age-Herald a few days ago that you would publish brief
 the subject of changes needed in the
 judicial system of the state. I have
 not written article on this subject
 though I feel like I could write a boolO
 but I had already prepared some bills
 which I expect to request some of our
 representatives to introduce when the leg
 slature convenes. These bills probably
 express more definitely and succnctly the changes sought, than would an ar
 ticle on the subject, especially to those
 familiar with the present laws. or if read in connection with the statement that they express, in large part, what the law is not, but should be. They are not based on theory, but are gleaned from actual observation and experience. They represent, of course, merely a drop in the bucket of changes needed, but some of the principles involved, are, in my opinion, vital to the welfare of the people. You can publish them if you
 see fit. Yours very truly,
 R. L, WILLIAMS. Birmingham, December 23, 1918. A BILL
 
 the procedure and practice in courts of criminal Jurisdiction.
 Be it enacted by the legislature of Ala bama:
 L That no person who has been con- victed or acquitted of a criminal offense in this state in any court, state, county or municipal of competent jurisdiction, shall be again tried or convicted of the same offense in either or any of such hut 10 iSSIIa nf former ieOp9 r(lV must be raised by special plea in bar. Oral proof of former conviction or ac- quittal in court, not of record, shall be sufficient.
 1 2 In all cases of conviction in munich pal courts, the defendant shall have the | right of appeal to the circuit court of | the county, within five days after con viction; and shall enter into bond in such sum as shall be prescribed by the recorder or judge, with sufficient surety l to appear at the term of the court to , which the appeal was taken, and from | term to term until discharged But if l the defendant does not make the bond required he shall be transferred to the custody of the sheriff and confined in
 the county jail until bond is made or he l Is otherwise discharged by law. Bonds
 in such cases may be approved by the recorder or sheriff.
 3. Attorneys at law privately employed i by any person, firm association or cor | pora ation, or their agents, shall not be authorized, and are prohibited from ap- bearing and prosecuting or assisting in
 the prosecution. of any person charged with a criminal offense in the courts of | this state.
 1 4. In prosecutions for assaults and hom- ! icdes, where a plea of not guilty by
 reason of self-defense. is nterposed. the defendant shall be deemed free from
 fault in bringing on the difficulty, unless l the evidence discloses that the defend ant knowingly and intentionally said some word or did some act calculated tc provoke difficulty with the person al i leged to have been assaulted, injured 1 or killed And in such cases, unless the | evidence discloses that the defendant was not free from fault, he shall bt l deemed to have been under no duty tC retreat if the evidence also discloses that the defendant was felonouslv assaulted or threatened in a manner likely to pro
 duce death or great bodily harm to the defendant. And courts shall so instruct the juries in such cases
 | g. In all prosecutions for assault witt