Ward v. People

The only question in this case is, when a defendant brought before a justice of tbe peace upon a criminal complaint for a simple assault and battery, triable by a justice’s court under chapter 94 of the Revised Statutes of 1846 (Comp. L. of 1871, chapter 179), haying pleaded not guilty, and being asked by tbe justice if be wishes a trial by a jury, declares that be does not, and submits to a trial without calling for a jury, whether, under our constitution, a trial by tbe justice without a jury, is valid; or whether it must be regarded as a violation of tbe defendant’s constitutional rights.

Th…