The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1851-06-19
CHIEF JUSTICE GIBSON.

John Banister Gibson, L. L.. D, Chief JUS
lice of Pennsylvania, is a native of Carlisle
in this state, a son of Col. George Gibson
a we'll known officer of our revolutionary
army, and who fell at the defeat Of ST. Clair
by the Indians in 1871. The present Chiel
Justice graduated at Dickinson College in
1900, and then became a student Of law in
she office Of his kinsman The Hon. Thomas
Duncan, al that time the leader of the bar
in Central Pennsylvania, and afterward a
Judge of the Supreme Court, Mr.. Gibson
was admitted 10 practice in 1909, and then
pushing for his fortupe in the oback woods"
he first opened ar office ut Beaver upon the
Ohio river. He next removed TO Hagers-
town, Maryland, and afterward 10 his ma
tive town, Carlisle where lie proved him.
self a full, fair adversary to such men as
Duncan and Watts, who were then in full
practice. In 1910 the Democratic party OF
his native county elected him TO the state
legislature, and in 1911 he was reelected.
In that position he sustained with vigor and
ability the administrations of Governor Sny-
der and President Madison. In 1912 he was
appointed President Judge of the 11th Ju-
dlcial District, which had Just then been
created in Northern Pennsylvania. In 1916
he was appointed a Judge of the Supreme
Court in tho place Of Judge Breckenridge,
and in 1929 he was chosen by Governor
Shultz 10 be Chief Justice.
For 80 years, then, this man has been a
Judge-for 35 years a Judge Of the Supreme
Court and of hat time, for % years he has
been Chief Justice. On that bench he has
helped TO adjudicate some sic thousand cases,
and himself delivered opinions in more than
twelre hundred of these.
If there was any one thing more than
another to be desired under our new system
of an elective judiciary, it was that men ol
ability and competence should oe the first
candidates on the side of tina. party which
has effected the salutary reform that has
been accomplished, and tho nomination oil
such men as Gibson proves that merit is
consulted in the choice of candidates, and
that the ticket has not been Connected BY
mere political appliances.
Nor has Judge Gibson failed in any act OF
political stead(astuess from the day he stood
in the Legislature as the youthful defender OF
Madison and Snydor--He has not siained
The judicial ermine by descending TO petty
political broils, but in 1925 when a memo
1able contest convulsed the whole state, SO
far as his station allowed him with proprietyp
he entered into the Tray for the cause of the
people, ard his name was pllced at the
head Of that electoral ticket which cast the
vote OF Pennsylvania for General Jackson.
And yet upon the Bench, Judge Gibson
has won golden opinions from all manner OF
men for his integrity and giant intellect
Thus, Horace Binnsy, a Wig lawyer OF the
highest character in speaking o. the SUPREME
Court says:-"At no time have the iGdg-
ments of the Court been guided by either
favor CT re sentment; and in learning, integ-
Tily, and industry, the Judges of the Court
have never been wanting 10 themselves, the
profession. or the country" y y y GIVE
ALL AGREE" sail this eminent lawyer, 'that
the Judges of the Supreme Court have been
faithful 10 the Constitution and the Law
faithful to tAe state and 10 the Union faith
full TO the people and to the Bar"