Evening star., 1952-03-12
Cross Section Of Public at It's Best.
By John c. Henry

! Ice on United States District Court
jury panel. It was an educational and
interesting experience, one which
strengthened the assurance that our
democratic judicial process is grounded
tect the rights of all contestants.
The panel included whites and Me-
groes, male and female. Their economic
circumstances and their educational
backgrounds were varied. Some were
serving with reluctance. others with Curl
osity and others with eager anticipation.
Some were working at their normal oc-
cupations in mornings or evenings, in
addition to jury duty during the day.
Some were laid OF their usual Jobs, al
though II this meant financial hard
ship they were being readily excused
from the Jury service. In my opinion
there was no variation between each
segment Of the overall groupin the high
level Of seriousness which they brought
to the service. no shadings In their de-
termination to be fair and unprejudiced
In their reactions to the evidence pre-
sented.
It was . cross-section Of the American
public at its best.
The mechanics of forming the panel,
approximately 200 jurors, was inter-
eSting as starter. All of Us showed up
in response to Summonses. Some had
gone through the routine before. either
serving or being excused. had not
and was not sure which wanted to
do. In large groups we were called by
name before Chief Judge sBolitha j.
Laws, who talked in general terms about
the need for. and the requirements Of
such service as part of the Responsible
ties Of citizenship. When that was
done. each individual was given oppor-
tunity to ask to be excused. Women
were excused permanently If they so
requested, the others were left on the
same basis as the men-they might ask
deferment Of their service, or they
might accept Immediately. Many Of
the men were excused, some for financial
hardship, some because their employers
wrote that they were essential in the
jobs, a few for secretive Government
reasons presumably pertaining to- urgent
work in the fields of scientific research
or defense operations. few because OF
health. In virtually all of these cases,
they were advised that they would re-
ceive another summons, perhaps within
a year and it was suggested that they
resign themselves to fulfilling the re-
sponsibility as soon as possible. One or
two who declared themselves opposed to
capital punishment were assured they
would not be asked to sit on such cases.
Other requests for excuses were rejected.
When the panel was completed, part
OF the group was assigned to criminal
courts. "A larger group, of which I was
part. was assigned to civil courts. A
manual on jury service, prepared under
the direction Of Judge Laws in 1851
and already being borrowed as model
in other District Court jurisdictions,
was given to each juror. We were then
taken to vacant courtroom to fill out
questionnaires and have the benefit Of
interviews with court attaches on our
eligibility and qualifications. From
that time on our headquarters. became
the Jurors waiting room: our work
week flve days and our work day from
$3.50 am. to about $3.50 pm.
In patches Of "a we were then called
to the different civil courts. each time
for q specific case. When the case
was ordered either the judge or counsel
for one Of the litigants would state to
the panel the essentials Of the case,
direct certain questions as to whether
any Of us were acquainted with liti-
gants, counsel, circumstances of the
case or had some other particular dis
qualification. Each side OF the counsel
table was allowed three challenges.
exercised by striking out jurors
name rather than by face-to-face chal-
lenge. and the first IL Of those re-
naming were seated In the jury box.
From that point on we were COM
mitted to listen to the evidence as
produced through testimony or ex-
hibits, and to make our decision on this
evidence only. The law pertaining to
the case was outlined in the judges
charge and we were bound to abide by
his directions in this respect. This is
a distinction that individual jurors occa-
sionally miss Some attempt to in
terpret the law when they retire to
the jury room to deliberate. It is inn
portapt that the Judge be explicit in
this regard and it usually results that
the majority Of the panel understand
the restrictions thus imposed. The jury
is concerned only with the facts as
shown by the evidence: the law Is for
the court to determine. Each jury
chooses its own foreman when it retires
to deliberate. It is well If he possesses
some Of the attributes Of the diplomat.
It is unfortunate that jurors may
spend wasted hours or days in the wait
ing room without being called to case.
The reason is that there is no certainty
as to when a case will be completed or
court free to start new one. A
reserve Of jurors must be on hand to
serve when needed. Court attaches
claim that ais many jurors are excused
each day. or as early each day. as is
considered safe. believe this is true
although read lot Of newspapers and
worked a lot Of crossword puzzles in
the waiting room.
The present District Court Building is
overcrowded and slightly shabby. The
new one renortedly is much mora glla.