Court Opinion

ID: 9810447
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 21:50:25.669103+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:39:56.085577
License: Public Domain

Douglas, J.,
concurring in result. In concurring in the conclusion of the Court, which I do without hesitation, I deem it sufficient to say that the defendant has been denied a constitutional right; Whether he has been injured or not by such deprivation is not for me to say. The mere fact that a substantial right intended for his protection has been denied him, is sufficient to influence my judgment. Whether the juries were in fact improperly drawn, remains to be proved, but for the purposes of this discussion, we must assume the truth of the defendant's allegation, because he has been denied the opportunity of proving it. As this is a right claimed by the defendant under the Federal as well as the State Constitution, and which has been so recently decided and fully discussed by the Supreme Court of the United States, any further discussion on my part is entirely unnecessary, Carter v. Texas, 177 U. S., 442. This would end the matter but for some expressions in the opinion of the Court. I may frankly say that while verdicts are sometimes rendered that do not meet my approval, I can not concur in any statment that any classes are, as a rule, unable to obtain justice on account of the prejudice of the average juror. This may happen in individual cases, especially in criminal *795trials where there is great public excitement; and wherever it appears, a new trial should promptly be granted. My views as to the character, powers and responsibilities of the jury are expressed in Cable v. Railway, 122 N. C., 892, 900.
I fully concur in the conclusion of the Court that the defendant is entitled, irrespective of his color, to the fullest protection of the law ; and that he may rightfully demand all the rights guaranteed to him by the Constitution of this State and of the United States, as well as every legal remedy necessary for their protection and enforcement. A denial of the remedy would be a denial of the right.