Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1929-02-28
Tells How
Jury Lists
Are Drawn
Answers Given to Questions
Often Asked by the
Public.
MANY SAFEGUARDS
AGAINST TAMPERING

IL appears that the question often
arises III the minds of the public "A
to what method is used in drawing
jury lists. The Western News report
er ran onto this query last Sunday.
A number of Libby men were dis
cussing the question and wondering
about It,. They wondered why some
men were so often drawn for Jury
service while others were never re-
CURED to serve. They cited the case
OF one man, as an example, who had
lived in the county 20 years and who
had never been drawn on the jury.
In view of these questions and real
lzing thatss answers to the queries
IN these mems minds would be re-
ceived with interest, the Western
News representative went to the
court house this week and propound-
cd the question to Clerk of Court
Fred Clark and County Assessor ].
p. Wier. as to how jury lists are
drawn. This is the information given
the inquiring reporter.
Lists of jurymen are drawn on the
second Monday in each January to
serve during the ensuin~ year. The
list of names from which the jury
venire is drawn is made up by the
jury commission, as it is officially
designated, which consists OF the
chairman Of the board Of county COM
missioners, the county treasurer and
the county assessor. These men run
through the tax list Of the county
and select from the taxpayers those
who are eligible to serve on a jury.
Every male citizen of the United
States who is a taxpayer residing
within the county, who is over II
and under 70 years of age, and who
has no physical defects that disquali-
fy him, is eligible. Physical defects
comprise deafness, blindness, or i'll
health or similar conditions that
might incapacitate one. Volunteer
firemen, militiamen or World war
veterans receiving compensation are
automatically excused from serving
if they so desire.
The three officials mentioned above
pick all eligible names from the tax
rolls and each name is typewriter on
a small rectangular piece of paper.
Every eligible name on the tax roll
must he included in the list. After
the names are SO written, each on a
small piece of paper, each such piece
of paper with its name is rolled up
and placed within a black, opaque
capsule. These capsules are then
placed in horizontal cylinder so
mounted that it can be revolved by
a crank on one end. After the
names are placed in the cylinder it
is locked and no one has access to it
until it is opened in court. Before
it is opened the cylinder is revolyed
and the capsules thoroughly mixed.
Then in open court, the cylinder is un-
locked and one capsule at time tax
en- out, opened and the name read
and listed. Usually so names are so
drawn and they comprise the jury
venire for that year. After the first
list Of so names is drawn the cylinder
is again locked and saved for future
use in case the first list is exhausted
in the trial Of any action in court.
To take care Of emergency matters,
another list is kept Of eligible per
sons residing within certain distances
If the court house. Then, it the first
5 in session, a/second drawing can
,e had from the list Of persons liv-
ng close to the county seat. This is
o do away with the expense and
lelay that would result If second
ury list had to be drawn from all
,arts Of the county. However, 1t Is
rery seldom that it becomes neces-
ary to resort to this second list Fur
hermore, all names within this
list must also be included
n the list made up by the Jury COM
mission in January.
That, in general ways is the
method used in drawing those who
Ire to serve on juries. If taxpayer
yho has lived in the county for 70
+ more years has never been drawn
and is eligible it is simply due to
he element Of chance in that the
apsule containing his name never
appened to get into the fingers Of
he man drawing the capsule from