State v. Lake
State v. Lake
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the court was delivered by
Frank Lake and Walter Jones were convicted of burglary in the third degree, and the latter appeals.
A general objection is made to the information, but we find it to be sufficient. The instructions are also criticised, but we think they fairly presented the issues. The jury were told that the penalty was imprisonment in the penitentiary for not less than one nor more than five years. It is contended that this statement was inaccurate because the statute (Gen. Stat. 1909, § 2559) fixes no minimum. A minimum of one year, however, is provided elsewhere. (Gen. Stat. 1909, § 2791.)
A reversal is asked on the ground that the defendants were allowed but six peremptory challenges between them, while each was entitled to that number individually. The statute which provides that the'defendant in an ordinary felony case shall be entitled to six peremptory challenges and the state to half that number, has been held to mean that where two defendants are tried together each may exercise six challenges, the state having but three altogether. (The State v. Stokley,
While each of several defendants on trial together is entitled to select six jurors to be peremptorily excused, there is no reason why they should not unite in the selection of any one or more of them if they should choose to do so. And from the proceedings already narrated the defendants in this case-must be deemed to have pursued that course. They were in each instance called upon to exercise a challenge collectively, and did so. If they had asked to make their challenges individually they would have been within their legal rights, and their request would doubtless have been granted. Their failure to do so fairly implied an acquiescence in the treatment of each challenge as jointly made. The rule thus enforced against the defendants is not a merely technical one, but is supported by a sound reason. The civil code requires peremptory challenges to be exercised by the plaintiff and defendant alternately, each having an equal number, the former challenging first. (Civ. Code, § 283.) The criminal code follows the same rule, in the absence of a different provision (Crim. Code, § 208), but-the fact that the prosecution has but half the number of challenges allowed the defendant-requires the latter to exercise two challenges after each one exercised by the state.
The judgment is affirmed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.