Case Name: The People against M'Lean
Court: New York Supreme Court of Judicature
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1807-08
Citations: 2 Johns. 381
Docket Number: 
Parties: The People against M’Lean.
Judges: 
Reporter: Johnson's Reports
Volume: 2
Pages: 380–381

Head Matter:
The People against M’Lean.
*n case a Pri* soner, on his arraignment, j^s an alien* and claimstbe trialbyajwy ^ meditate lenguas, the court of oyer *“y teJ^°er such a jury t* be summoned instanter.
AT the last oyer and terminer, in the county of-, J held before Mr. Justice Tompkins, the prisoner was convicted of murder. On his arraignment, he suggested his alienism, which was admitted. He then moved to put off his trial until the next court, so that a panel of jurois de medietaie linsruce, might foe made out and returned; but 6 0 the court ordered the sheriff to return such a panel m-stanter. The next day a panel, consisting of eighteen citizens, and as many aliens, was returned by the sheriff, „ ,, . - . 11 i • i i and from these, alter allowing the prisoner all his challenges, a jury, consisting of six citizens and six aliens, was impanelled, by whom the prisoner was tried, and found guilty.
The question now submitted to the court was, whether the court of oyer and terminer were right, in ordering a jury de medietate Ungues to be returned instanter.

Opinion:
Per Curiam.
The act concerning jurors, [Laws of N. Y. vol. 1. p. 377. 379.) relative to the venire, and tho ejgjlt jayg f0 be allowed for summoning them, applies only to jurors drawn out of the box by the county clerk, as qualified jurors by law. It is not applicable to the case of an alien, upon a trial cle medietale lingua. Such a jury is to be summoned and impanelled, as if no statute on the subject existed. By the common law, the justices of gaol delivery might, by a mere award, without any precept, order the sheriff tó return .a panel of jurors instanter, for the trial ofa prisoner arraigned before them. In the case of Count Koningsmark and others, tried for murder in 1681, and of Swendson, in 1702, for forcibly marrying Mrs. Rawlins, the prisoners claimed the privilege of alien, and strangers were impanneied, and tho prisoners tried on the same day. In the present case, therefore, the, proceedings of the court of oyer and ter-miner were correct and legal.
Hankins, b. 2, c. 41. s. 1. and 4.
3 St. Trials, 468.
5 St. Trials, 449.