Case Name: H. and G. Bixbee v. State of Ohio
Court: Supreme Court of Ohio
Jurisdiction: Ohio
Decision Date: 1833-12
Citations: 6 Ohio 86
Docket Number: 
Parties: *H. and G. Bixbee v. State of Ohio.
Judges: 
Reporter: Cases decided in the supreme court of ohio : upon the circuit at the special sessions in Columbus
Volume: 6
Pages: 89–90

Head Matter:
*H. and G. Bixbee v. State of Ohio.
Two indicted of a joint offense, court may order a joint trial, though a separate trial be demanded by one.
Where several defendants are indicted of a joint offense, and all put upon a joint trial, each must be allowed his separate peremptory challenge of jurors.
This was a writ of error reserved for decision in the county of Huron. The original case was an indictment containing several counts, charging H. and G. Bixbee with shooting R. Prior and P. McCormick, with intent to kill and wound. When the cause was called for trial, the accused claimed each a separate trial, which the court refused to allow. In selecting the jury, G. Bixbee challenged one juror, with w'hich juror, H. Bixbee declared himself content, and insisted upon retaining. ' The challenge was allowed. H. Bixbee-then challenged another juror, whom G. Bixbee insisted to retain. This challenge also was allowed. Both the accused then united in challenging a third juror, and claimed to be allowed two peremptory challenges for each; but the court decided that they could only have two peremptory challenges between them. They were tried, found guilty, and judgment rendered against them, to reverse which this writ of error is brought.
The case was submitted without argument.

Opinion:
Judge Lane
delivered the opinion of the court:
There are certain offenses which can not be committed by more than one individual, consequently two can not be presented of such, in one indictment. , 1 Chit., Crim. L. 267. But wherever offenses may be committed by several, they may be united in the same accusation. Id. 270. When the joinder is permitted the court is authorized, at its discretion, to try them together or separately, as will best advance the ends of justice. But in the exercise of this discretion the court will be careful that the rights of the prisoner are not jeopardized by the joinder. In the casa before us the court directed a joint trial, and we can not interfere with this discretionary power unless some injury be shown to have followed. The record furnishes no proof of error in this particular.
On the subject of the challenge it is the right of each individual accused of a crime, that the tribunal to whose adjudication his rights are submitted, shall be impartial. It is not the right, that any 87] particular set of men shall be his triers, but that *those selected for the office shall be such as possess the requisite qualifications of impartiality. This right seems sufficiently maintained, by allowing the power of exception, without yielding to him the privilege of insisting that the persons shall compose the jury who may be first called by the sheriff. This principle, when applied to this case, would be sufficiently maintained by conceding to each defendant the power of exercising all his challenges, both peremptory and for cause. The statute evidently contemplates this power. It gives, by section 14, the peremptory challenge in civil cases to each party; but, by section 15, every defendant may exercise it in criminal trials. 29 Ohio L. 98. As the court did not, in this case, allow every defendant his two peremptory challenges, we believe they committed an error.
The right of separate trial, in ordinary cases, does not appear to ns to be a consequence of this right of separate challenge. In capital cases, where the panel must be laid before the prisoner, before the trial, and the jury must be composed from it, except for cause, it would perhaps be difficult to secure each his privileges, except by a separate trial, if demanded. But in other iudictments, all is granted which the prisoner can justly claim, by the concession of the privilege of exception.
Judgment reversed.