People v. Dolan

17 N.W. 78, 51 Mich. 610, 1883 Mich. LEXIS 647

• Court: Michigan Supreme Court
• Decided: October 24, 1883
• Status: Published

Opinion

Sheijwood, J.

The respondent in this case was convicted in the Washtenaw circuit court of a violation of the statute relating to closing saloons on election days. Act 259, Pub. Acts 1881.

The consideration of the first exception taken by defendant is alone sufficient to dispose of tljjg case, and it will be unnecessary to consider any of the other exceptions, although we think several are well taken.

After the jury was impaneled the prosecuting attorney was absent from the court-room ,a few moments, and during such absence the jury was duly sworn by the court to try the cause. Immediately thereafter the prosecuting attorney returned into the court-room, and insisted upon his right to still examine the jurors before they were impaneled and sworn, and the court thereupon permitted him to challenge peremptorily one of the jurors impaneled, and another was called and sworn in his place, and the jury as thus constituted was thereupon sworn to try the case. The proceedings were objected to by defendant’s counsel on the ground that a jury had already been regularly impaneled and sworn ip. the cause, and further objected to the serving of the jury in the case as then constituted. The court overruled the objection, and defendant’s counsel excepted, and the court then proceeded with the trial. This was error.

The statute clearly points out the various steps required to be taken in obtaining, impaneling and swearing a jury for the trial of a cause in a court of record. 2 Comp. L. pp. 1726-1731.

In Beg. v. Beeve, Lond. Leg. Obs. (Eeb. 15, 1845,) p. 312, a case of felony, a juror was taken sick and had to be removed after part of the evidence for the prosecution had been received. Mr. Justice Creswell thereupon required a physician’s testimony as to the juror’s inability to-continue on duty, and then had another man sworn in his place. The •prisoners were allowed their challenge and those witnesses who had-been already examined were again called and sworn and the judge read to each his own note of the witness’ evidence and had him state whether it was correct. 3 West. Law Journal 95. — [Rep.

There can be no departure from these requirements without the express consent or stipulation to that effect of the parties. Only, one jury can be impaneled and sworn to try a case, unless the jury first impaneled has for some reason been legally discharged.

In this case two juries were sworn to' try the case, and the first had not been discharged by the court when the trial commenced before the second, which rendered the verdict complained of. We know of no practice or statute which-will allow a proceeding of this kind.

The conviction should be set aside and the respondent discharged.

The other Justices concurred.