Case Name: ERICK THOMAE, PROSECUTOR, v. ALBERT P. CAIN
Court: New Jersey Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: New Jersey
Decision Date: 1913-04-04
Citations: 84 N.J.L. 103
Docket Number: 
Parties: ERICK THOMAE, PROSECUTOR, v. ALBERT P. CAIN.
Judges: 
Reporter: New Jersey Law Reports
Volume: 84
Pages: 103–104

Head Matter:
ERICK THOMAE, PROSECUTOR, v. ALBERT P. CAIN.
Submitted December 6, 1912
Decided April 4, 1913.
1. I'lie timely demand for n jury made by a defendant in a proceeding in a justice's court under sections 26, 27 and 28 of “An act for the settlement and relief of the poor” (Pamph. L. 1913, p. 390), cannot lawfully be denied because of his refusal to advance the venire fees.
2. After tlie denial of a timely demand for a jury made by a defendant in a proceeding in a justice’s court under sections 26, 27 and 28 of “An act for the settlement and relief of the poor” (Pamph. L. 1911, p. 390), the justice is without jurisdiction to hear the case and to his judgment certiorari will lie.
On certiorari.
Before Justices Trenchard, Parker and Minturn.
For the prosecutor, Anthony R. Finelli.

Opinion:
The opinion of the court was delivered by
Trenchard, J.
The prosecutor was convicted before a justice of the peace in a proceeding taken under sections 26, 27 and 28 of "An act for the settlement and relief of the poor." Pamph. L. 1911, p. 390.
Section 29 of the act provides that "at any time previous to the hearing of the complaint in the last two sections mentioned, cither party may demand a trial by ¡jury, whereupon said magistrate shall issue a venire facias to summon a. jury of twelve men competent as jurymen to try said complaint."
The prosecutor made timely demand for a jury, which was denied by the justice because of the refusal of demandant to advance the venire fees. That was erroneous. N. J. Society P. C. A. v. Wilbur, 47 Vroom 266; MacKenzie v. Gilbert, 40 Id. 184.
After such a denial the justice was without jurisdiction to try the case without a jury, and to his judgment certiorari will lie. N. J. Society P. C. A. v. Wilbur, supra; MacKenzie v. Gilbert, supra.
The conviction will be reversed, with costs.