§ MR. COCHRAN-PATRICKasked the Lord Advocate, If his attention has been directed to the inconvenience often experienced by those summoned to attend as jurymen; and, if he can hold out any hope that the matter will be dealt with by the Government at an early date?
THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. B. BALFOUR)I am aware that inconvenience is not infrequently caused to those who are summoned as jurymen; but I fear that the performance of this Constitutional duty must always be more or less onerous. The necessity for summoning a larger number of jurymen than may be required arises from the fact that the accused person has in Scotland a right to challenge five jurymen without showing any cause; and, consequently, where there is a large number of persons to be tried together, it has sometimes been found that, in consequence of challenges, the requisite number of jurymen could not be obtained, leading to a postponement of the trial, and consequently great inconvenience. I may say, however, that that inconvenience has been so far mitigated by the institution of pleading diets; and I am in communication with the authorities to see whether arrangements cannot be made for further remedying it.