Representatives of the Provincial Assembly impeached the Chief
Justice for accepting a salary from the Crown instead of relying
on legislative grants, as had been the practice. The Council
before which the articles were exhibited declined to entertain
them. The people, however, felt that the House was right, and
this sentiment was manifested at the next sessions of the courts
by the grand and petit juries in every county. They refused to
take the oaths and stated that they could not take part in
proceedings presided over by a judge who was under impeachment.
No business was done in court until the following year, when,
after the battle of Lexington, new judges were appointed by the
Council.[Footnote: "Life and Works of John Adams," II, 332; X,
240; "Principles and Acts of the Revolution," 100.]

Sometimes the laws of the State were criticised in this way by
judge and jury.

In December, 1788, a grand jury in South Carolina made this
presentment:

We present as a grievance of the greatest magnitude the many
late interferences of the legislature of the State in private
contracts between debtor and creditor. We should be wanting in
our duty to our country and regardless of the obligation of our
solemn oath and the high trust at this time devolving upon us
by operation of the laws of the land, did we omit this occasion
between the expiration of one legislature and the meeting of a
new representative body, to express our utter abhorrence of
such interferences.[Footnote: "American Museum," VII, Appendix
II, 10. _Cf. ibid._, 19.]