Legal Definitions - half-tongue

Definition: In England, a type of jury that was composed of half of one nationality and half of another, and was empaneled to try an alien. This type of jury was known as half-tongue. The use of this type of jury ended in 1914 with the passage of the Status of Aliens Act.

Example: If an Italian immigrant was accused of a crime in England in the early 1900s, a half-tongue jury might be empaneled to try the case. This jury would be composed of half Italians and half Englishmen. The idea was that this would ensure a fair trial for the accused, as both sides would be represented on the jury.

Explanation: The term "half-tongue" refers to a specific type of jury that was used in England to try cases involving immigrants. The jury was composed of half of one nationality and half of another, in order to ensure a fair trial for the accused. The example illustrates how this type of jury might be used in practice, with an Italian immigrant being tried by a jury composed of both Italians and Englishmen.