The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1850-08-13 00:00:00

LAW INTELLIGENCE.

Sir Thomas Wilde, an advocate who made a very large
income, was nevertheless a most indifferent Chief Justice
of the Common Pleas, a court in which he had all his life
practised, and who has already—even already—sbewn
that he is the sorriest Chancellor that in modern times has
sat on the woolsack.

SALARIES OF THE JUDGES.—The Parliamentary Com-
mittee on Official Salaries have agreed to the following
scale as regards the judges :—Lord Chancellor, £BOOO ;
The Master of the Rolls, £6.000; Vice Chancellor of
England, £5,000; Second Vice Chancellor, £5,000;
Masters in Chancery, each X 2,000; The Accountant
General, £2,000 ; it is understood that the office of the
third Vice Chancellor is to be abolished on the first va-
cancy. Chief Justice of Queen's Beach, £7,000 ; Ditto
Common Pleas, £6,000; Chief Baron of the Exchequer,
£6,'000; Twelve Puisne Judges, each £5,000. Now,
though we do not see with any favour the reduction in the
salaries of the puisne judges, we confess we have no objec-
tion whatever to urge against the reduction in the salaries
of the Chancellors, Chief Justices, Master of the Rolls,
and Masters in Chancery.
HOW THE JUDGES WORK.—During the sittings in
Banco, the common law judges are obliged to be in their
courts at ten o'clock ; and on an average it may be said
seldom does the Queen's Bench rise before four, and often
not till five or halt past five o'clock. The sittings in the
Exchequer and Common Pleas, though not so prolonged,
may be taken on average, the first as lasting from ten to
half-past three ; the second as lasting from half-past ten
to three, throughout theterm and the sittings after term.
At Nisi Prius, sittings in all the courts commence earlier
and continue later. It occasionally happens that judges
are detained at Westminster or Guildhall till eight, nine,
and ten at night, sometimes even till later hours. Ex-
clusive of these Nisi-prius sittings, judges have to take
their turn at the Old Bailey, where criminal trials some-
times run far into a summer's evening, or late into a
winter's night. Each judge has also, twice a year, to go
his circuit, which usually lasts from five to six weeks,
during which period he sometimes sits so early as eight
o'clock in the morning, and continues sitting without in-
termission till nine, ten, or twelve at night. These are a
part only of the duties of judges. There is besides the
harassing, teasing, wearing business at chambers—the
preparation of elaborate written judgments, in cases where
the Court takes time to consider—the endless reference to
brethren, to books, and to papers—the sifting of decided
cases, and of cases to he decided. ti ref
GUTLDFORD.—A FEMALE COUNSEL.—COBBETT (A
PAUPER) v. HUDSON.—When this case was called on,
Mrs. Cohbett, the wife of the plaintiff, who appeared in
court provided with a brief and other papers, was about
to address the jury and conduct the case on behalf of her
husband. The Chief. Baron inquired of Mrs. Cohbett if
she had any precedent for such a course of proceeding.—
Mrs. Cobbett rt plied, that she appeared for her husband,
who was the plaintiff in the action, and as in law a man
and wife were considered to be as one, she thought she
had a legal right to conduct the case. She appeared in_the
Court of Chancery, and had also moved the full court for
a habeas. The Chief Baron said there could be no pre-
cedent for such a step which was totally unprecedented
and unusual. He would, however, consult his brother
Erle, and hear his opinion upon the subject. His lordship
accordingly sent a communication to Mr. Justice Erle, in
the other oiurt, and shortly ft rwards he again addressed
Mrs. Cobbett, and said that the learned judge agreed
with him that the course she proposed to adopt was alto-
tether unusual and unprecedented. He would, however,
give the matter some further consideration, and the trial
should stand over, and in the meantime she would have
an opportunity to retain counsel, if she thought fit to do
so. On Wednesday, Mrs. Cobbetr was again in atten
dance, when the Chief Baron informed her that on full
consideration he had decided that her application to he
allowed to conduct the case of her husband could not be
entertained. Mrs. Cobhett then said she should place the
brief in his lordship's hands, and call upon him to act as
counsel. Mr. Justice Erie said such a responsibility
could not be cast upon the court. She then said she
should tender a bill of exceptions to his lordship's ruling.
The cause was shortly afterwards called, and no counsel
appearing, the plaintiff was nonsuited.