Court Opinion

ID: 7190599
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-24 16:56:25.734408+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:16:10.609977
License: Public Domain

Ludeling, C. J.,
dissenting. The only assigned error deemed important by the court is that the record does not show that the jurors who *388tried the prisoners were sworn. It lias been repeatedly decided by this court that objections to the qualification of the jurors who tried the prisoner will not be listened to, unless urged at the time of their selection and before trial. So that one convicted by an illegal jury can not object, because he is presumed to have waived Ms right to object; but, according to the opinion just read, if the clerk fails to note that the jurors were sworn, he may urge this objection after conviction, because nothing can be presumed against a criminal. I can not-assent to this. It is morally certain that the jury is sworn in all cases. This results from the manner in which the jurors are selected and sworn in courts, and I can not conceive how it is possible to fail to swear a jury in any case.
The decisions cited do support the opinion of the majority of the court, but the reason for the position -is not a good one according to my understanding; nay, it is no reason at all. Because it has been usual for the records in criminal cases to show that the jurors were sworn is not a reason for saying that the .record is fatally defective, even if the maxim “ omnia rite esse acta.” can not be applied in criminal cases. But I do not assent to the proposition that this maxim can never apply to criminal proceedings. I admit that all presumptions are in favor of the innocence of the accused, but that is not incompatible with the application of the maxim omnia rite acta. The one applies to the evidence and to the accused; the other applies only to the acts of the officers of courts. In fact, the position maintained by the majority of the court violates the first-mentioned maxim by assuming that the officers of the court have boon guilty of a dereliction of duty.
I therefore dissent.
Mr. Justice "VVyly concurs in this opinion.-