State v. Godwin
State v. Godwin
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the court.
This case presents only one question for decision,
It appears that the parties who are desired as jurors-are summoned in -the criminal court of Shelby county by a writ issued by the judge of that court. We have not the law before us, but is done in pursuance-of propel authority.
For the circuit court, ch. 5, of Code, sec. 3981, the county court of each county is required at the first session after each term of the circuit court, to designate twenty-five good and lawful men to serve as-jurymen at the next succeeding court. This act was-amended by act of 1883, so as to provide that this shall be done by the county court at its quarterly term next preceding each term of the circuit court, provided that no person shall be summoned - who has served on a venire for a period of two succeding years.
These sections serve to show the policy of the Legislature on this question. By section 3998, -“no court shall appoint any person to serve as a juror more than one time in each period of twelve months, either on the original panel or to fill a vacancy therein.”' This is in the chapter entitled, “ Of Jurors and Juries,” and while the provisions refer generally to the county court, because the practice was then to summon by the agency of that court alone, no reason is seen why this general provision should not control other courts-
The judgment will be reversed and the defendant discharged, with costs.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.