The Sun.
London, England, 1842-02-18 00:00:00

COURT OF ALDERMEN.

Last week a Court was held for the despatch of
public business.
THE OFFICE OF JUDGE OF THE SIIERIFF"S COURT OF

THE CITY OF LONDON.
In consequence of the general understanding that the
Report on the subject of the offices vacant by the de-
cease of Sergeant Arabia would be presented, there was
a full attendance of members, as well as of persons ad-
mitted below the bar.
Alderman BROWN, after a few preliminary observa-
tions, presented the following Report:—" In obedience
t., an order of this Honourable Court of the 18th day of
January last, to consider the resolution of the Secon-
daries and City Courts Committee for a conference on
the Report of the City Solicitor, respecting additional
sessions being held at the Central Criminal Court, and
other subjects connected with t)e vacant offices in the
Sheriff's Court, and to confer with a deputation of the
said Committee, and to report our opinion upon the sub-
ject of the said cotninunieation; we, whose names are
hereunto subscribed of your Committee, do certify that
we were attended by Mr. Recorder, John Clerk, Esq.,
the Clerk of the Peace, and Mr. Solicitor, and duly pro-
ceeded to consider so much of the said report of Mr. So-
licitor as related to holding of intermediate se signs at
the Central Criminal Court, and also as to whether both
or only one of the vacant offices of Judge of the Sheriffs
Court should be filled ; and after conferring with a De-
putation from the Secondaries' and City Courts' Com-
mittee, as requested, we are of opinion that it is neither
necessary nor expedient that any increase should be made
in the number of sittings of the Central Criminal Court,
either by the holding of intermediate sessions. or by the
adjournment from time to time of each or any of the
sessions as now holden, which would, in effect., be the
same as the holding of intermediate sessions. That the
citizens of London have ever deemed it an important pri-
vilege that the local Magistrates elected by themselves
should form a. portion of the Judges presiding in the
Courts established for the administration of criminal
justice within the City, and that in our opinion it
would be a dereliction of duty on the part of the Magis-
trates of London wereithey to sanction any measure which
might countenance their non-attendance at the sessions
of the Court, as now established by law. That while we
refrain from offering an opinion upon the question gene-
rally, whether any or both of the vacant offices of Judge
of the Sheriff's Court should be filled up, we are fully
convinced that the assistance hitherto rendered by the
Court towards the admistration of justice in the Central
Criminal Court, by means of salaried judges in the per-
sons of theßecorder and Common Sergeant, and a Judge
of the Sheriff's Court, is abundantiy sufficient, and ought
not to be increased, and that any occasional temporary
inconvenience from accidental circumstances, occasioning
the absence of any such salaried judges, may be reme-
died by that accommodation which the Judges of the su-
perior courts, acting from time to time as Commissioners
at the Central Criminal Court, are at all times kindly
disposed to render, when the salaried judges act-
ins, for this City are incapacitated from dis-
charging their duties. At the same time we feel
it our duty to suggest that, should the Court of
Common Council eventually determine to fill up the two
vacancies, it will be desirable -.that the gentlemen who
may be elected Judges of the Sheriff's Court should re-
ceive their appointments at the salaries paid to those
officers prior to the establishment of the Central Crimi-
nal Court ; that it should be encumbent upon the senior
Judge for the time being to sit in such Court, as the
prior salaried Judge, on the part of this City ; and that
for such service he should receive an additional remune-
ration, to such an amount as shall be-determined by
the Court of Common Council ; and, further, that
the question of seniority between the Judges of the
Sheriff's Court should be determined as follows both
such Judges shall have been previously in the service
of the City, they should take rank according
to that held by them in such prior service ; if one of
such Judges should have been in such service, and the
other not, the former shall be considered the senior of
the two ; and that if neither of them should have been in
such service, they should respectively take rank as
Judges according.to their standing at the bar ; and we
recommend the same to this Hon. Court accordingly.
" All. which we submit to the judgment of this Hon.
Court.

" Dated this Bth day of February, 1842.
" MATTHEW WOOD, G. CARROLL,
MICHAEL GIBBS, A. BROWN,
JOHN JOHNSON, W. T. COPELAND."
The Report then gave rise to a long discussion.

Aldennitn T.Wooi; moved the follo;ing amendment :
" That this Court are• of opinion, both the vacant
offices of Judge of the Sheriff's Court should be forth-
with filled up, and that the salary and allowance made to
the late Sergeant Arabia should be equally divided be-
tween the gentlemen who may be appointed ; and that
they be required to perform, in addition to their duties
as judges of the Sheriff's Court, all the ditties of the
Central Criminal Court heretofore performed by the late
Sergeant Arabin, not interfering with the duties hitherto
performed by the Recorder and Common Sergeant."

Upon a sliow of hands, the LORD MAYOR declared that
the amendment was negatived by a majority of 5 ; the
numbers being for the amendment 6, against it 11 . The
Report was then agreed to, and ordered to be transmit-
ted to the Secondaries' Committee.

It is proper to state that the City's Solicitor's report
alluded to in the Report presented by Alderman Brown,
recommended, as our reporter was informed, the appoint-
ment of two Judges of the Sheriff's Court (who by virtue
of their offices are in the, commission of oyer and terminer
and gaol delivery), to hold an intermediate session,
more especially for the trial of juvenile offenders, and
the abolition 'of the Evening Sittings of the Central
Criminal Court.