People v. Johnston
People v. Johnston
Opinion of the Court
The Court below erred in denying the defendant’s challenge of the juror, Charles Bach, for implied bias. On his examination in chief the juror stated that when the homicide was committed he was the operator in the telegraph office at Jackson, near which place the homicide occurred; that he learned some of the facts attending the homicide from dispatches sent and received through the office, and also heard some of the particulars from a witness for the prosecution; that from these facts, and particularly from what he. had learned through the dispatches, he had formed an opinion as to the guilt or innocence of the accused; that it was a “fixed opinion,” and would require evidence to remove it; that he still retained that opinion after having heard what purported to be the facts of the case, and it
Judgment reversed and cause remanded for a new trial.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- THE PEOPLE v. WILLIAM JOHNSTON
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- Qualification of a Jtjbob in a Ceiminal Case.—The point to be determined as to the qualification of a juror in a criminal case is, whether at the time of his examination he has an unqualified opinion as to the guilt or innocence of the accused, and not what might be the state of his mind after hearing the evidence.