Court Opinion

ID: 7885830
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-09-08 21:40:48.602792+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:31:44.597389
License: Public Domain

The opinion of the court was delivered by
Valentine, J.:
This was a criminal prosecution, brought by the state of Kansas against George L. Miller, in which the defendant was charged with keeping and maintaining a common nuisance, to wit, a place where intoxicating liquors were illegally kept for unlawful sale, barter and use, and without any permit therefor, and contrary to the statute in such cases made and provided. The action was commenced before a justice of the peace, and was afterward taken on appeal to the district court, where the case was again tried, before the court and a jury, and the defendant was found guilty, and sentenced to pay a fine of $250 and the costs of the prosecution, and to stand committed to the county jail until the fine and costs were paid. The defendant now appeals to this *45court, and claims that three material and substantial errors were committed by the court'below, to wit:
“First, In excluding John Estlinbaum from the jury, upon the challenge of the state.
“Second, In overruling the defendant’s challenge to John Hay.
“Third, In overruling the motion for a new trial, and rendering judgment upon the verdict of the jury, notwithstanding the fact that the verdict is not sustained by sufficient evidence.”
The first ground for error is founded upon the ruling of the court had upon the examination of John Estlinbaum, who was called and examined for the purpose of ascertaining his competency to serve as a juror in the case. The examination and ■ruling are as follows:
“John Estlinbaum, being'sworn on his voir dire, testified: ‘ I live in Junction City, Davis county; have lived here a number of years; know the defendant, George L. Miller; have heard of this case; have formed an opinion upon it; have not expressed an opinion; know nothing about the facts in the case; I was absent in Colorado during all the time covered by the complaint, viz., from October 1st to December 15th; returned about six weeks ago to Junction City. My opinion is formed upon rumor; it would take some evidence to remove it, but I could try the case impartially as a juror. I have'not been doing business in Kansas since the 1st day of May, 1881. I have not been employed by the defendant since that time, except about three days assisting in moving a house for him. Had tended bar for him a short time prior to May 1, 1881.’”
*46*' j5y™aisoi!tiou of court. *45This was all the evidence introduced as to the competency of the juror. The court sustained the challenge of the state, and discharged the juror, to which ruling of the court the defendant excepted. We do not think that'the court below committed any substantial error as against the defendant, for, although it may be that Estlinbaum was not so absolutely incompetent to serve as a juror that the court below would have committed material error by permitting him to serve as a juror, yet it cannot be doubted but that twelve men more competent could easily have been found and obtained to serv*46on the jury. We think that a trial court has, and should have, a very extensive and almost unlimited discretion in discharging a person called to serve on . \ . . ° ° x . . a jury, who might, in the opinion of the court, not make the fittest or most competent person to serve on the jury in the particular case. We can hardly see how the court could commit substantial error by discharging any person from the jury, when twelve other good, lawful and competent men could easily be had to serve on the jury. (Stout v. Hyatt, 13 Kas. 232; A. T. & S. F. Rld. Co. v. Franklin, 23 Kas. 74.) There is an immense difference between discharging a juror, and retaining him. To discharge him can seldom, if ever, do any harm; while to retain him, if his competency is doubtful, may do an immense injury to one party or the other. Hence the same rule as to competency should not govern in discharging a juror that should govern in retaining him.
The second ground of alleged error is, the action of the court below in overruling the defendant’s challenge to John Hay as a juror. The evidence with respect to John Hay’s competency to serve as a juror is as follows:
, “.John Hay being called as a juror in this case, and being sworn upon his voir dire, testified: ‘I reside in Davis county; am a citizen of the county. I am acquainted with the defendant, Miller. X was called as a juror in this case upon the trial of it before the justice of the peace, and I was peremptorily challenged by the defendant at that time. I have an opinion in my mind as to the guilt or innocence of the defendant upon the charge in the complaint in this case; I have no doubt as to the correctness of my opinion"; this opinion would remain until removed by evidence. I have •not expressed an opinion. Opinion founded on rumor. I have no bias or prejudice against the defendant, and would be governed entirely by the evidence in making up my verdict. I believe I could try the case impartially.’ ”
*47. , 2. Incompetent jm’01’. *46This was the only evidence tending to show the competency or incompetency of the juror. The court overruled the defendant’s challenge, and the defendant excepted. The *47defendant afterward challenged Hay peremptorily, and in doing so exhausted all of his peremptory challenges. Was Hay competent'to serve on the 'j ury ? We do not think that he was. Every person charged with a criminal J r ° offense, in Kansas, has a right to be tried “ by an impartial jury.” (Const., Bill of Rights, § 10.) Now is a juror who possesses an opinion with respect to the guilt or innocence of the accused; and who has “no doubt” as to the correctness of his opinion, an “impartial” juror? And is a juror who, having such an opinion, and who would continue to entertain the same until it should be removed by evidence, an impartial juror? Suppose that this opinion was that the defendant was guilty: then, would it be possible for the juror to presume that the defendant was innocent, until the contrary.was proved? Would he not rather presume that the defendant was guilty, until the contrary was proved? Section 228 of the criminal code requires that every defendant in a criminal prosecution shall be “presumed to be innocent, until the-contrary is proved.” Would the juror, in the case supposed, be competent under this section ? Besides, § 205 of the criminal code provides that “it shall be a good cause for challenge to a juror that he has formed or expressed an opinion on the issue, or any material fact to be tried.” Now would the juror, in the case supposed, be competent under this section? But it may be said that the opinion of the juror in the present case was founded merely upon rumor. Now there is nothing in the constitution, or in the statutes, providing, or even intimating, that a juror who has formed an opinion upon rumor only may be,competent to serve in the case. It may also be said, in the present case, that the juror stated upon his voir dire that he had .no bias or prejudice against the defendant, and would be governed entirely by the evidence in the case in making up his verdict, and that he believed that he could try the case impartially. The juror was probably sincere in stating this; and he probably could state the same again with the same sincerity, even though he may have heard all the evidence introduced on *48the trial of'’the case. Indeed, it is probable that every juror who tried the case could honestly state, if called upon to try the case again, that he believed that he had no bias or prejudice against the defendant, and would be governed entirely by the evidence in making up his verdict; and that he believed that he could try the case impartially. Men are seldom conscious of being biased or prejudiced, or of being in such a condition that they could not try any case impartially, and be governed entirely by the evidence introduced on the trial of the case.
The fact, in the present case, that the juror had an opinion with respect to the guilt or innocence of the defendant, and that he had no doubt as to the correctness of his opinion, and that his opinion would remain until it should be removed by evidence, was sufficient to render the juror incompetent to serve in the case; and we think that the court below erred in overruling the defendant’s challenge to the juror for cause. With this view of the case, it is unnecessary to consider the other ground of alleged error.
The judgment of the court below will be reversed, and the cause remanded for a new trial.
Horton, C. J., concurring.