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1 Panel [i] (1924)

handle is hein.journals/panelmbu1 and id is 1 raw text is: THE PANEL MONTHLY BULLETIN OF THE ASSOCIATION OF GRAND JURORS, NEW YORK COUNTY. Vol. 1 JUNE 1924 No. 1 OUR AIM The object of this little paper is to in- crease the strength and to extend the in- fluence of the Grand Jurors' Association. To this end we shall publish news of interest to all engaged in Grand Jury work. We shall endeavor to keep members in- formed of the present activities of the As- sociation and its plans for the future. We shall try to become a useful medium of communication between the Officers of the Association and its members, To the best- of our ability we shall co-operate, in the full spirit of public service, with all or- ganizations working in the great cause of law and order. The Grand Juryman, though but a cog in the large wheel of justice, is a servant of that cause. His is a duty demanding both intelligence and dignity. The interest which he shows in his labors conduces to the gen- eral welfare of the community. It will be the modest effort of Tax PANEL to stimu- late that interest, to sustain it, and to make it effective. THE REASON A Magistrate is reported to have said that the Grand Juries of New York County do not take proper cognizance of automobile killings. If the Grand Jury fails to indict, then the responsibility is upon the Grand Jury and not upon me, he is quoted as saying, adding that, in his judgment, the average Grand Juror in the County of New York does not take a proper attitude in relation to these automobile kill- ings. That is the reason they are killing so many people in Manhattan Borough. We think we express the opinion of the average Grand Juror when we reply that no Grand Jury should, or will, place the stigma of indictment on a chauffeur (who is also a citizen) when it is clear, on cvi- dence presented, that accident was unavoid- able. In cases like those referred to, the average Grand Jury is guided by fairness and common sense. That is why juries are. MAY WE SMOKE? There is no rule regarding smoking in tile Grand Jury room. Some juries smoke, and others don't. The decision, pro or con, depends largely on the make-up of the jury. Often the matter is left to the Foreman to decide, and if he says Nay, there is occasionally a strong objection. Some men, it seems, must have their smoke. Without it, they do not enjoy their work, and, in their plea for lighting a cigar or cigarette, they cite precedents against which no experienced foreman can contend. The argument for personal comfort is a strong one. But the argument for dig- nity seems stronger. And when it is ad- vanced, it usually decides the matter. Grand Juries are not common juries. A Grand Jury is essentially a Court. The rule, therefore, which applies to the real court-room, should apply to the room in which the Grand Jury sits, and that rule prohibits smoking. No Judge would permit smoking in his Court, and no common jury would, we think, venture to suggest that smoking be allowed. Besides, some consideration should be ac- corded, first, to colleagues who do not smoke, and secondly, to ladies who may appear as witnesses. To both, in the ma- jority of instances, a smoke-filled room is objectionable. But that point need not be stressed here. The main thing for Grand Jurymen to consider when the question of smoking arises, is whether or not it is dignified. Does it look well or not to the person who appears before the Jury? And is the personal comfort which the Jury- man gains by smoking worth the loss which the Grand Jury, as a supposedly dignified deliberative body, suffers for his pleasure?

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