Goddard v. State
Supreme Court of Connecticut
IN ERROR. This was a complaint against Joseph Goddard, exhibited, by a tything-man, to Mimas Ives, Esq., a justice of the peace, for a breach of Sabbath. The delinquent, being brought before the justice, pleaded not guilty, putting himself upon the jury for trial; and he thereupon moved, that a jury be ordered and empannelled to try the cause. This was refused; and after a trial before the justice alone, he was convicted of the offence charged in the complaint.
Read the full summary
IN ERROR. This was a complaint against Joseph Goddard, exhibited, by a tything-man, to Mimas Ives, Esq., a justice of the peace, for a breach of Sabbath. The delinquent, being brought before the justice, pleaded not guilty, putting himself upon the jury for trial; and he thereupon moved, that a jury be ordered and empannelled to try the cause. This was refused; and after a trial before the justice alone, he was convicted of the offence charged in the complaint. He then filed a bill of exceptions, and brought a writ of error in the superior court. The judgment of the justice was there…
1Opinion of the Court
Williams, Ch. J.
The plaintiff in error claims, that the statute authorizing a conviction by a justice of the peace, is unconstitutional, as the part}'" accused is entitled to a trial by jury. That a justice of the peace has by statute the right to convict of this.offence, as has been done, is not denied. By the 9th section of the bill of rights, it is provided, that “in all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall have a right to be heard by himself or by counsel; to demand the nature and cause of the accusation ; to be confronted by the witnesses against him ; and ta have compulsory process…
2Cases cited1 opinion
- Holcomb v. CornishSupreme Court of Connecticut · 1831
3Cited by14 opinions
- Gentile v. AltermattSupreme Court of Connecticut · 1975
- Lincoln v. SmithSupreme Court of Vermont · 1855
- State v. TorelloSupreme Court of Connecticut · 1925
- Pearson v. WimbishSupreme Court of Georgia · 1906
- Swanson v. BoschenSupreme Court of Connecticut · 1956
9 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.