Petit Judicium

(Lat.)

In old practice. Prays judgment. 6 Mod. 236. 10 Id. 210, 211. w\iich was of a larger number, and whose duty it was to find bills for the petit jury to try. 3 Bl. Comm. 351*. A body of twelve men, who are sworn to try 'the facts of a case as they are presented ill the evidence placed before them. Any less than this number of twelve would_ not be a common law jury and not such a jury as the Constitution guarantees to accused parties, when a less number is not allowed in express terms; and the necessity of a full panel could not be waived — at least in the case of felony — even by consent. The infirmity in the case of a trial by a jury of less than twelve, by consent, would be that the tribunal would be one unknown to the law, created by mere voluntary act of the parties; aiid it would in effect be an attempt to submit to a species of arbitration the question whether the accused has been guilty of an offense against the State. Cooley's Const. Lim. 319; 128 111. 593. PETIT (or PETTY) LARCENY. In old English law, based on St. Westminster I. c. 15, larceny where the value of the property stolen was twelve pence or less. The distinction between grand and petit larceny has been abolished in England. 24 «& 25 Vict, c. 96, § 4. In the United States there are statutes in some states making a distinction between grand and petty larceny based on the value of the property stolen.

He demands judgment.