The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-17
JURY COMMISSION
 FINDSD|SPATCH|N
 AFFA|RSO OF COURT
Keeping Jury Box Full Big Job-ReCords Show 25 Per Cent of Voters
 Are Disqualified

Keeping the jury box filled with names of qualified jurors for service in the several courts of Jefferson county is a big task placed in the hands of the jury commission of which W. B. Mills Is chairman and J. D. Matlock and W. s. Hawkins are associate members.
 Courts are in session about 34 weeks in the calendar year and 15o men per week, or about 5,1o0 men, are required for Jury service every year. In supplying these men the jury commission finds. to begin with, that about 25 per cent of the qusl- flied voters of the county are ex- empt. This percentage includes those exempt by the legislature on account of the nature of their work, those over 65 years of age and others phy- sically unable to serve. Persons con- victed of any offense involving moral turpitude are disqualified.
 In supplying these jurors the con- mission finds that citizens are more willing to serve in hard times than in periods of prosperity. The pay of a juror Is $s per day and when times are good men do not want to leave their jobs for jury service and often times present numerous excuses why they should not serve.
 "we find" said W. B. Mills, that about 75 per cent of the men selected for jury service in Jefferson county are industrially employed or work ing for some other person. About z5 per cent of the jurors are either farmers or in business for them selves.
 Out of jury box containing from 1S,000 to 20,000 names, mans name Is drawn for jury duty and~no man should object to this method. Twelve men out of venire of 100 men are selected for a particular trial. The names of these men were placed in the box from 12 to Is months before the time at which the accused is to be tried"
 MT. Mills say that tho procedure in the courts here Is speedier than in California and New York courts. He referred to the Arbuckle trial in wbich over four weeks was consumed in organizing jury and three venires were exhausted. In Jefferson county he stated. as high as 24 or 25 cases have been disposed of in one week from venire of 100 men.
 Every juror costs the county at least a." said Mir. Mills. Tn the first place he Is paid $3 for his days ser- vices and then mileage, the clerk 8 and sheriffs fees and other necessary expenses are added"
 Those exempt from jury service by an act of the legislature in 1909 on account of the nature of their work are: Judges of the several courts, lawyers, federal officers, of ficers of the executive department of the state government, sheriffs and their deputies. clerks of the courts and county commissioners. practfcing physicians and pharmacists, officers and licensed engineers plying the waters of the state, train dispatchers, railroad station agents. engineers, conductors, telegraph operators and members of the National Guard.
 The names of men engaged in these classes of work are not placed in the jury box. With these excep- tions the jury commission may in clude the names in the box of those who In their opinion are fit and competent to discharge the duties of grand and petit jurors with honesty impartiality and intelligence"
 There are 15 beats in the Bessemer cutoff in which the qualified voters are liable for jury service only in Bessemer. The Birmingham section includes 39 beats. The jury commits sion has the job of filling the Bes- semer box.
 Being arrested for speeding does not. of course, involve moral turpi- tude," said MT. Mills. Even though fined for this offense man is still liable for jury service If otherwise qualified"
 From time to time in order, to keep a correct list of the names and ad- dresses of qualified voters, Harry Andrews, clerk of the commission. visits various beats of the county and industrial concerns. In visiting a plant he takes down the name of every male voter from the president to the humblest employe and all are liable for jury service.
 Women are still disqualified from jury service in Alabama although they serve in other states It is ex- pected that before long the legis- lature will pass an act giving them the right to serve on Juries. Then the jury commission will have a big