Ames v. State
Ames v. State
Opinion of the Court
Appellant was tried and convicted in the 91st Judicial District Court of Eastland County under a plea of not guilty of a misdemeanor offense of driving while intoxicated and assessed punishment at a fine of fifty dollars and three days in jail.
Under the provisions of Article 1970-141a, Vernon’s Ann. R.C.S., Acts of 52nd Legislature, page 671, chapter 388, jurisdiction in misdemeanor cases, where a plea of not guilty is entered, was conferred upon the district court of Eastland County. King v. State, 158 Texas Cr. R. 347, 255 S.W. 2d 879.
The record shows that appellant was tried and convicted by a jury of six in number and at the trial requested that he be tried by a jury of twelve members.
The sole question presented is whether appellant could be legally tried and convicted in the district court by a jury composed of six members.
Article 5, Section 13 of our Constitution provides that petit juries in the district court shall be composed of twelve in number. A jury of the same number is prescribed in Article 578, Vernon’s Ann. C.C.P.
In Rochelle v. State, 89 Texas Cr. R. 592, 232 S.W. 838, this court said:
“The expressions in the Constitution with reference to the
Appellant was entitled to be tried in the district court by a jury of twelve members, and his trial before six jurors renders the conviction invalid.
The judgment is reversed and the cause remanded.
Opinion approved by the court.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Frank Charles Ames v. State
- Status
- Published