Court Opinion

ID: 9741035
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 20:48:10.694461+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:24:21.773835
License: Public Domain

RAWLINGS, Justice
(dissenting).
Art. I, § 9, Constitution of Iowa says: “The right of trial by jury shall remain inviolate; but the General Assembly may authorize trial by a jury of a less number than twelve men in inferior courts.”
We are thus called upon to evaluate Art. I, § 9, of our Constitution in light of its peculiar wording. In this regard it is to me evident the first provision thereof, quoted above, must be read in the context of the second coordinated condition. In other words, specific reference to permissible juries of less than 12 in inferior courts must mean there may not be less than 12 in any other courts.
*339By the same token no leave is granted to provide for other than unanimous 12 member verdicts in all cases tried to a jury in this jurisdiction, save and except those so litigated in inferior courts. See Power v. Williams, 53 N.D. 54, 205 N.W. 9 (1925); In re Advisory Opinion to the Senate, 108 R.I. 628, 278 A.2d 852, 854-859 (1970). See generally 16 C.J.S. Constitutional Law §§ 67, 70.
Implicit in the majority opinion is a holding to the effect a less than unanimous verdict will suffice in criminal prosecutions. This I cannot accept.
I submit we today impermissibly amend Article I, section 9 of our state constitution by judicial fiat.
I therefore respectfully dissent.
MASON, J., joins this dissent.