Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-02-02

FOK mr. ENQUIRER.
Justice or right shall be sold denied deferred any
Attention has lately been drawn TO the delays in The
courts at Richmond The bar representing the sutors in
the courts as well themselves ask that remedies be
adopted and met by the objection that they are
patly the Of these delays attending too many
courts, and occupying too much time in speaking. No
doubt in Richmond, well elsewhere iii The Com
counsel attend courts which sometimes con,
a,ct with each other but if delay from this, it
can only be because the courts permit IT, Let any court
determine that the causes in it shall he disposed of as
they are called and that the absence of counsel
another court will not he deemed sufficient for
refusing take up cause at the instance Of the
sci on tile other sde-Let such determination after il
is formed be carried ont with frmness, and counsel
will of necessity adapt themselves TO the rule laid dawn.
They will either orbear to practise IN incompatible
courts or if they have coming on in two courts
Mt the same time, will take care when attending in per-
one, To have partner or representative at the
other. No doubt too, in the courts al Richmond, as
we'll as elsewhere in the Commonwealth, counsel often
make speeches longer than necessary but this again
depends very much upon the courts. Judge of abil.
ty and discretion has it in his power to curta argu-
ments very much without giving the least offence, and
indeed the opinion which counsel entertain of the
Judge Discrimination has Of itself great influence in
making their speeches longer or shorter A question
which would scarcely have been raised before such a
man as Chief Justice Marsha may be the theme of dis
cussion for hours and days before minds of less per-
spicacy.
To say, then, that the members Of the bar attend
many courts make speeches of too great length and
that justice is delayed from this cause is reflection
upon the courts that permit the administration of JUS
tlce 10 be thus obsruced. But, in truth, the delay
sought be cdressed in the Circuit Court Of Henrco,
is in that branch of business, in which speeches
rarely made and in which there but little occasion for
the presence Of counsel in court any great length Of
time. Chancery causes almost invariably argued
by note in writing Of the counsel for the plaintiff,
Their note by the counsel for the defendant and some
times note in reply by the plaintiff counsel. The
papers, with these notes Of argument go into the hands
of the Judge, and nothing can then be done by
sci until the decision is made There are cases in
the hands of the Judge which he has had for cons
derable length Of time, and in of them the papers
are quite vouminous and the authorities be referred
to, probably numerous In stating this fact, it is not
intended to cast any reproach upon the Judge. There
is no doubt that he has the disposition to do all
that he can He sits his hundred and ten days in the
year on the Common Law side of the court, and in his
Chancery terms dsposes for the most part of the causes
not requiring laborious examination and of many OF
the others as he finds in his power But nevertheless
there is always considerable number of difficult causes
remaining in his hands undecided, and this number
would be largely added to- if there any use in doing