Show for meditation by LEONARD A barretta BARRET Tr r TRIAL BY JURY TN N A recent issue of 0 the forum I 1 there was published an interesting debate on should the civil jury be abolished the publication of the article was doubtless suggested by recent court trials in which justice appeared to have been thwarted because of an irresolute jury many will believe that the jury Is an antiquated and cumbersome device reads the article inefficient and uncertain at its worst a travesty of justice in place of the jury set up a small but scientific tribunal 0 of experts others wilt will agree reads the article that the technical refine refinements menti of judge made law are to be feared and p prefer rele r to purge the jury system of its abuses lather than to abandon it it it Is that the jury system Is also wasteful of time money and luman energy the cost to the state of ie the civil courts tor for a ingle rangle day often orten exceeds the entire 1101 mt of the verdicts rendered regarding the possibility of la jury be lug jig prejudiced the article reads most juries are influenced at least li la part i 0 place in the administration of jus lice some bocim are based on ignorant preconceptions of the case others f ingested gg ested by newspaper reports of tle trial jurors are especially c prone in be influenced by striking end and spec exhibitions staged by coun yel such a as s the skillful display in ra 10 courtroom of hospital cots F dejung salts superfluous crutches nd ij exhibitions of faked ral ed injuries such 1 i appa apparent reily lame laine legs or pretended kalness ness essentially un j st are often the outcome of I 1 r prejudices religious Ip intolerance tolerance antipathy or s raps in debating this question lit it should 1 remembered that the ht of trial I 1 I 1 11 b jury Is a ivery important Import opt element in ili our democratic system it is one ef the really fine privileges of de i kc racy it the jury system Is at fiust and undoubtedly much can be bild ald in just criticism of it might th the e difficulty 1 be not so eo much tho the system i its abuse the mistakes made mad j v a ierg ars elhai ade h by the men and ana women ano compose the ene JUF so long as men and women mho are abundantly capable of 0 doing so avoid serving on juries and the task be left to those less capable we shall continue to debate the question should the jury system be abolished ma 1929 western newspaper union n |