Page:Race distinctions in American Law (IA racedistinctions00stepiala).pdf/267

 States which are silent on the subject, the Negro does have the same right to testify as the white person. How much weight is actually given to his testimony is a matter not of law, but of fact, to be determined by the trier of fact, or jury, as the case may be. It may be said, in short, that, at present, the right of the Negro to testify in court is precisely co-extensive with the right of the white person.

AS JUROR

Most of the legislation and suits concerning the Negro as a witness came during the years between 1865 and 1870. Since then, the right of the Negro to testify in court has been generally undisputed. With the Negro as a juror, it has been different. There has not been a great deal of legislation about the Negro as a juror, not even during the years 1865-70 which were so prolific of race legislation. But the court reports from 1865 have been abundantly supplied with cases that have to do with the Negro as a juror, not referring so much to his right to serve as to his actual service on the jury. First, reference will be made to the legislation on the topic, then a number of cases will be discussed, most of which have turned upon a few fundamental principles of constitutional law, and, finally, a word will be said of Negro jury service as it actually exists.

The fourth section of the Civil Rights Bill[35] of 1875 reads: "That no citizen possessing all other qualifications which are or may be prescribed by law shall be disqualified for service as grand or petit juror in any court of the United States, or of any State, or account of race, color,