nt until the question comes to trial in a regular way.

SUITS.--_Suits at law_ are called _causes_, _cases_, or _actions_.

A _civil cause_ is a suit between persons, brought to recover rights or
to secure compensation for their infraction.

A _criminal cause_ is a charge brought by a State or by the United
States against a person for the commission of a crime.

The _plaintiff_ is the person who brings the suit. The _defendant_ is
the person against whom the suit is brought.

In all criminal cases in State courts, the State is the plaintiff; in
other words, society prosecutes the offender in the name of the State.
In criminal cases in the United States courts, the United States is the
plaintiff.

JUDGES.--The judge represents the majesty of the law, and is often
called the court. He maintains the dignity of the trial, determines
the method of procedure, interprets the law, instructs the juries,
renders judgment, and in criminal cases passes sentence upon the
offender. Judges are presumed to be learned in the law, and to be
perfectly just and impartial in their rulings.

JURIES.--Most of the courts of this country have two juries, called
respectively, _grand jury_ and _trial jury_ (or _petit jury_).

The purpose of the grand jury is to investigate crime, and to present
charges, called indictments, for trial by the court. The number of
grand jurors to the court varies in different States, being not more
than twenty-four and not less than twelve. The grand jury has a
foreman, elected by it, or appointed by the judge of the court.

The grand jury inquires into violations of the law, and if, in the
judgment of twelve jurors, the evidence in a particular case warrants a
trial, a formal written charge is prepared, and the foreman indorses
thereon, "_A true bill_." Upon this indictment the offender is tried
by the court.

In a few States grand juries are rarely if ever called, the indictment
being found "on information" or on evidence presented to a court
commissioner.

A trial jury usually consists of twelve men, but in some States a
smaller number may be accepted by the judge of the court, in certain
cases, by the agreement of the counsel upon the opposing sides. The
trial jury hears the testimony and argument, and then decides upon the
truth of the facts in dispute, and renders a verdict or decision in the
suit, and in criminal cases convicts or acquits.

In some States all the jurors must agree, or ther