The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1963-03-14

repair. You are legally required
to inspect the Jail, but it is also
customary for the Grand Jury to
inspect the Court House, the
Sheriff's residence, the County
Roads Garage, the Hospital and Of
fees of various County officials
Ill the Court House and report on
the conditions you find and make
such recommendations as you
deem proper. You should have be-
fore you a copy of the report of
the September, 1862, Term Grand
Jury, so that you can review its
recommendations and make in
quiry as to whether or not those
recommendations have been COM
piled with. It is also customary
for the Grand Jury to inspect the
books of the County Treasurer. This
does not mean, of course, that you
audit these books, but means that
you simply ascertain to your own
satisfaction that they are being
kept properly and the system used
is competent. The work of the
Grand Jury has been considerably
lesSened in recent years for rea-
son that after an accused has
been arrested on a charge pre-
ferred against him, he may waive
indictment by the Grand Jury and
seek an immediate trial before the
Court. These cases are, of course,
speedily heard and disposed of by
the Court and this eliminates the
&c fitp1n and nffnrt
on these cases.
| should like to impose upon a
small amount of your time to
read excerpts from the Jurors
Creed by David A. Simmons,
which is a composite of essays in
contest of the Committee on
American Citizenship of the Ameri-
can Bar Association and reprinted
in the Journal of the American
Judicature Society:
Il am a juror. This building in
which | sit is a courthouse.
1t is also a temple of justice if
the judge and l properly perform
our sacred function.
My right to serve as juror was
purchased for me by the blood
and agony of my forefathers who
wrested this precious right from
tyrants.
Under our system of law no per-
son can be deprived of life, liberty
or property without the consent of
a Jury of his fellow citizens. This
is the very essence of freedom. l
recognize the Importance of the
court as an agency to settle civil
di: putes and to punish criminal
acts. BY my participation, l pre-
serve and perpetuate democratic
processes. Trial by jury is a basic
right guaranteed to me and to my
fellows. All who seek their day in
court are entitled to a fair hearing,
end as a juror, | will see that they
get it from me.
l will welcome the opportunity to
serve as a juror and regard 1t as
the most important civil function
| have to perform. | will ask to be
excused only in case of real emer-
gency.
l do not believe that justice is
served when competent citizens
evade jury service and leave it to
the INDECENT and loitererS about
the courthouse.
My oath as juror imposes up
on me a sacred obligation which l
will neither avoid nor shirk.
On my oath, l will we'll and truly
try each case submitted to me, and
a true verdict render according to
the law given me by the judge
end the evidence produced at the
trial. to the best of my ability, with
out fear, favor, or hope of reward.
will listen attentively, patient
ly, with tolerance and understand
ing to all of the testimony, instruc-
tons and arguments, and will with
hold my decision until all the evil
dence has been introduced.
With a patient and impartial
mind, | will carefully weigh the