24 S.D. 583 | S.D. | 1910
This is an appeal by' the defendant from a judgment rendered in favor of the plaintiff, and from the order denying á new trial. The action was instituted by the plaintiff to recover of the defendant damages for an alleged breach of a contract entered into by the defendant with the plaintiff for the purchase of ioo head of steers, which the defendant refused to accept.
The defendant by his answer admits that he entered into the contract alleged in plaintiff’s complaint, but denies each and every other allegation contained in the complaint. The defendant for a further defense alleges that it was provided in said contract that defendant was to have the right and privilege of selecting ioo head of steers at the time for delivery thereof from a herd of about 180 head of steers shown to the defendant by plaintiff, and that plaintiff failed and refused, and has ever since failed 'and refused, to permit defendant to select said ioo steers from said herd, although defendant has at all times been ready and willing to make said selection. As a further defense, defendant alleges that 'on October 5, 1907, before any breach of the contract alleged in the complaint, it was agreed between plaintiff and defendant that said contract should be waived, abandoned, and rescinded, plaintiff to retain the said $100 paid by defendant on the purchase .price thereof, and that said parties did then waive, abandon, and rescind said contract accordingly.
It is disclosed by the record that upon the case being called for trial, and before the drawing of the trial jury, the defendant interposed a challenge to the array of jurors summoned and returned to try said cause, supported by affidavit, on the ground that the plaintiff in the said action was the sheriff of said county at the time of the drawing of the jury for said term of court, and participated in the drawing of the same,' and that he, as such sheriff, summoned and caused to be summoned said jury. This challenge was denied by the court, and the defendant duly excepted. Thereupon a jury was called to the box for examinaation, and the defendant interposed a challenge to the array on the same grounds previously interposed to the panel. This challenge was also denied, and the defendant excepted. Thereupon
It is contended by the respondent in support of the ruling of the trial judge that in civil cases a challenge to the panel or to the array is not provided for — the only challenge allowed being the challenge to individual jitrors — and hence that the trial court was right in denying appellant’s challenges. The law in relation to the formation of the trial jury in a civil case is provided for by section 249 of the Code of Civil Procedure, and following sections: By section 251 it is provided: “Either party may challenge the jurors.” By section 252, as amended by chapter 171, Raws 1903, the ground's of the challenge are specified. It will be noticed by an examination of these sections of the Code of Civil Procedure that no provision is made for a challenge to the panel or to the array. The learned counsel for the respondent calls our attention .to section 3 of the Code of Civil Procedure, which provides, “The Code establishes the law of this state respecting the subjects to which it relates, *' * *” and also to section 9, which provides, “ * * * But in all cases provided for by this Code, all statutes, laws and rules heretofore in force in this state, whether consistent or not with the provisions of this Code, unless expressly continued in force by it, are repealed and abrogated * * * ”; and insists that under these provisions of the Code of .Civil Procedure no challenge -to the panel or array can be allowed in a civil action, as'no provisions have been made in the Code of Civil Procedure authorizing such a challenge to the panel or array. Prior to the adoption of the Revised Codes of 1903, there would have been great force in the contention of the respondent, but by that revision an important change was made in respect to the common law being in force in this state. Prior to the Revision of 1903 by section 2505, Comp. Raws, it is .provided, “In this state there is no common
It seems to be the settled practice at common, law to allow challenges to the panel or array, both in civil and criminal cases. 3 Blackstone by Cooley, 359; 17 Am. & Eng. Ency. of Law, 1111; 24 Cyc. 328; Cowgill v. Wooden, 2 Black (Ind.) 332; Woods v. Rowman, 5 Johns. (N. Y.) 133; Gollobitsch v. Rainbow, 84 Iowa, 567, 51 N. W. 48; Munshower v. Patton, 10 Serg. & R. (Pa) 334; Lagaux v. Wells, 4 Yeates (Pa) 43; Ullman v. State, 124 Wis. 602, 103 N. W. 6; People v. Fellows, 122 Cal. 233, 54 Pac. 830; White v. State, 45 Tex. Cr. R. 597, 78 S. W. 1066. The Code of Civil Procedure having made no provision for a challenge to the array or panel, and there being no provision in the Constitution in conflict with the common law upon this subject, it would seem quite clear that under the law as it now exists the rule of the common law authorizing such a challenge to the panel or array should be allowed, notwithstanding -the provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure which have been heretofore quoted. The Code of Civil Procedure having provided for challenges to individual jurors, those provisions of the Code supersede the common law, but, the Code of Civil Procedure not having provided in any manner for the challenge to the panel’or the array -in civil cases, the common law applicable to' such challenge remains in force, and the court therefore erred in denying the challenge to the array- or the panel, as the facts stated in the affidavit of the clerk as to the participation of .the sheriff in the drawing and summoning of the jury at that term is undisputed.
It is provided in section 716, Pol. Code, that: “In case the sheriff shall be disqualified by reason of being a party to- any
The summoning of the jury bv the sheriff was equally irregular and in violation of the common law, as was his partici pation in the drawing of the same. To permit the sheriff under such circumstances to summon the jury where he is a party to an action to be tried by them affords him opportunity to exercise an improper influence over them. Woods v. Rowan, 5 Johns. 133
The other questions discussed in the briefs of counsel may not arise on another trial and we therefore do not deem it necessary to consider or discuss them in this opinion.
The judgment of the circuit court and order denying a new trial are reversed.
While agreeing with Justice CORSON that there should be a reversal of the judgment and a new trial granted in this case, I do not think it should be based on the proposition that section 6, Civil Code, establishes the common-law practice in this state excepting where in conflict with our statutes or Constitution. The history of the enactment of our Civil Code would seem to indicate that the Civil Code is an embodiment of the common-law rules as to property and personal rights, and that section 6 has no reference whatever to the rules of procedure under our Code of Civil Procedure, which is a departure from the common-law procedure, and which establishes the law of this state as to procedure without reference to the common law, and wholly independent of it, and that our Code of Civil Procedure is al'so wholly independent of either the Criminal Codes or Civil Codes. While the Code of Civil Procedure malíes no provision for challenge to the entire panel of jurors, still it seems to me that the court has inherent power to hear and determine
Tt also seems to be held generally that a provision like that contained in section 716, Pol. Code, must be complied with as to disqualification of sheriff when he is a part}' to a suit; that is, when. he is a real party, not a nominal party, but a real party to a suit lo he tried by the. jury he has assisted in drawing.