The Daily Alaska empire., 1936-01-21

ground, learning. morals and stand- ing of every propose appointee should be thoroughly investigated
 T further believe that the com pensation of our judges should be commensurate with their responsi- bility, so as to attract the best quail fled to that field, and keep them there after they are appointed :. :.
 The Duties of Jurors
 And while we are on the subject I want to call your attention to the fact that jurors are judicial officers and as such a part of our judicial system, and that much that we hear in these days about the miscarriage of justice and the failure of justice is not due to the courts or the flaws or weaknesses of the law, but to the failure of jurors to do their duty un- der the law
 T have no patience with people who sit on the sidelines and cry about the miscarriages of justice and yet who, when summoned as jurors, try to avoid jury service or, after having accepted it, fail in their, duty or flagrantly violate their paths. as jurors, or both. s
 These things happen all the time in every court of the land, and will continue to happen until the aver age citizens, both men and women, who are called upon to sit as jurors, learn their obligations and have the intestinal fortitude to perform their duties.
 My experience has been that in nine -tenths of the cases where peo- pie complain of the inefficiency of The courts and the weakness of the law, as the cause of the miscarriage of justice, that the fault is neither with the courts nor the law, but with he jurors who haven't the courage to do their duty, and in many in stances violate the oaths they have taken as jurors.
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 We also have some inher n t weaknesses in the law itself that should be corercted, both in our civil and criminal laws. =. 7. We have for instance 8 law that 1 provides that no defendent shall be compelled to give testimony against himself; and this is right and found- ,d on both reason and justice. But )ur courts have gone further and nave declared that a defendant not )nly does not have to take the stand ,ut that no comment can be made n that fact
 Another inherent weakness is the alibi racket
 Unanimous Jury
 And another is the unanimous jury verdict.
 Since before began the practice of law three-fourths of nine jurors could bring in verdict in civil cases in many states, and since that time several states have amended their laws so as to permit II and in some instances 10 jurors to return verdict in all criminal cases, where capital punishment was not involved, thus eliminating the so-called An chor Man on the jury who, alone and unaided, and contrary to all the evil dence, often hung the jury of forced it to submit to his views, for no bet ter reason (never disclosed) than that he was protecting a. friend or others and sometimes for consid- eration, from just punishment :.
 Educate the Public
 Let your organization think on these things which have been dis cussing. Strive to educate your mem- bers and through them the public at large as to their duties as jurors and citizens. Consider the reforms need ed in the law itself; and when the Legislature meets make it your busi-' ness to impress your views on the Legislators and work, as every good citizen should work, for better laws and for a saner, better and more effective administration