The Arkansas banner., 1844-12-11
JUDGES OF THE SUPREME COURT.

saS, to the reputation ot the Juuicidfy oi te otate and to the gentlemen themselves, we deem it prop CT to publish sketches of the characters of the Hon. THos. JOHNSON and WILLIAMSON s. OLD- HAM, the former Of whom has bech recently elect ed, by the Legislature, Chief Justice, and the lat ter, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the State
 This is due the gentlemen, and particularly Judge Johnson, because their regulations, as Ju- rists have been unjustly assailed, by political op ponents in the prints of the country, and in the pr yate circles. However causeless and unjust such attacks may be, they may produce, to some extent an improper impression on the public mind; and it is therefore proper and right to counteract their un due influence.
 The HoN. THos. JOHNSON was born on the 29th day of December in the year 1908, near Salisbury, Worcester county, in the State of Maryland, and is now about thirty-six years of age.
 He received his academical course of education partly in the vicinity of his birth, and partly at Snow Hill the seat of justice of Worcester county; and then entered the Sophomore class, at Ham, den, Sidney College, Prince Edward county, in the State of Virginia, where he ardently pursued his studies for one year. From thence he went to Princeton, in the State of New Jersey, where he completed his literary course a collegiate, after having one degree conferred upon him having pre- viously to the bestowment of that degree, gone through the usual studies necessary to graduation in another degree, he did not deem it profitable to remain for the purpose of going formally through those branches again fol the sake of higher de- gree
 His education embraced thorough course in English Literature, the Sciences usually taught in the high Institutions of the country, and the An cient Languages.
 Since he left college, in his ardent and jealous pursuit of legal knowledge he has not overlooked or neglected, the high claims of literature But while he has fully recognized the force of the sen timent of the great commentator on the English Law thai the LAW is jealous Mistress, ]" he has yielded his assent to the equally correct opnon that she does not claim from her votaries exclusive devotion, but cheeruly allows them an occasional interview with her fair sisters, LITERATURE and SCIENCE.
 The literary and scientific accomplishments of the CHIEF JUSTICE, in addition to the general ad- yantages they afford to the mind called upon for legal investigation and logical reasoning will be exceedingly servicable to him, in the performance of that duty of his high station which requires him to give his opinions in writing.
 For the beautiful, fluent, clear and forcibe style of Blackstone Sir Wum Jones, Story, Kent, and host of others, who have been great lights on the Bench, and held the world in admiration with their writings, are indebted to their literary attain Ayd bo,,, judgements and opinions may be, fl, for want of education, he is bungler in delivering them, they lose much of their force and interest," to those who arc bound, from their occupation, to study them.
 We are, therefore, happy to have it in our power to say that the Legislature have placed at the head of the Supreme Bench, man who will be able to contribute in high degree, to its literary reputa- tion
 His collegiate course ended, Judge Johnson com menced the study of the Law, at Snow Hill, in the office and under the instruction of the Hon. E. k Wilson, of that place, lawyer of great eminence and ability, and for many years member of Con gress from his district. Here he devoted himself with unabating zeal and industry to his elementary course in the study of the law, for nearly two years and at the end of that time was licensed to prac- tice in all the courts of the State of Maryland,
 Having been admiteed to the Bar, and prepared to enter upon the active business of his profession he, like many young men, concluded to come 10 the far west to seek his fortune, and build his reputa- tion. Accordingly, he left his native State in the fall of 1884 and reached Batesylle in Arkansas in January 1885, where he located, and has resided until the present time.
 His moral department, gentlemanly bearing stu dious habits and close and successful attention to the business of his proession soon made him friends and patrons in his new home.
 And not long after his location in Batesyille, a vacancy occurring in the office of Prosecuting At torney for the northern district of the Territory, he was appointed to that office by Gov Fulton,
 Filling this station with ability and general satis- faction, the first Legislature under the State Con- stitution, elected him, in the fall of 1886, to the same office for the third judicial circuit, under the new organization and division of the State; and he was again elected in the fall of 1888, by the Gen eral Assembly of that year.
 As prosecuting attorney for the State, he was faithful and highly efiicient-never suffering the wicked ylolator of the law to escape unpunished, nor prosecuting the innocent or doubtfulIy guilty with too much rigor, effort, merely to convict for the sake of his own reputation as an officer. He had too much ability and legal skill to suffer the real ly guilty to go unpunished, and too much justice and benevolence to seek the conviction and punish ment of the innocent
 Such reputation as a prosecuting attorney, is far more enviable than one which he might have gained, by putting forth all his powers to convict indscriminately, the innocent with the guilty, as some eminent lawyers have done, through motives purely selfish, and equally inhumane
 In the year lS4O, Judge Johnson was elected Judge of the circuit court for the third judicial circuit, which office he held until his elevation to the Supreme Bench
 To his ability and faithfulness as circuit judge the members of the Bar, and people of his circuit can, (unless some of them are influenced by polit ical prejudices), unanimously testify
 He applied himself closely to the books of his profession, in order to prepare himself more fully