Litchfield enquirer., 1852-03-18

ff E during the same period. Attorney iof the State for the county of Litebheld. both of which places he held undisturbed by party influences, until he resigned them. upon being appointed . Judge ota the Superior Court. &R
 In 1850. he was associated with the late Judge Bristol. in revising and reporting a new criminal code for the Slate. Their report, with few nnimporiant mOdlhcatiOns. was adopted by the General Assembly, and still remains the basis of the criminal juris- prudence of Connecticut.
 Judge Church has never favored ihe popular notion of codlfcatien of the entire laws of the Stale, but has always deemed it better to introduce improvements into 1 the laws gradually and only as they seemed to be indicated by necessity or convenience: land he has from time to time suggested such changes, aud procured their aGopslon by the legislature. Among those changes which may be traced to his hand, are tobe mentioned our excellent statute ef set-oH-- the law increasing the jurisdiction of Justices of the Pence --and the statute to prevent sexations and unnecessary costs. (See Re- vised Statutes, sec. l53, p. e9: also sec. 150, page s6. l He also advocated, within certain limits, the statute permitting persons interested
 in tue event of suit, to testity,--but has always been opposed to extending the privilegeindiscrminately toparties in court, ] and re gards this innovation upon the Eng
 fish rule, as a great defect m our law Of evidence. (See Revised Statutes. sections e2, S3, & S4, pages 72& 73.
 | lie has also advocated the recent statute giving the right, in civil actions, to either narty peremp,orily to challenge two jurors. iSee Preface to the Revised Slatutes, ?. Al
 In May, 1882, upon the retirement Q Chief Justice Hosmef, he was appointed one of the Judges of the Superior Court
 This was an appointment notonly unso'lci- ted, but not even anticipated, by hinseif: and came from legislature upon whose
 political sympathies lie had no claim. "
 In May, lS47, he was appointed Chiet Judge of the Supreme Court of Errers of
 the State, by vote almost unanimous. As a lawyer, he was indefatigable in the preparation of cause, and on the triai Was remarkably astute and ready in the exam lination of witnesses. His mind was always available. and could turn itself with admir-
 able tact to meet sudden and unexpected emergencies.
 l His mowers as an advocate were of no ordinary character. The lively play of his wit, the strength of his conceptions. asd happy method pecaliar to himself, of conaA bining and presenting his thoughts to . jury, in style at once chaste and inseiligible to
 the plainest understanding, ,--and above all,
 feryid earnest Manner,- made hln, on all
 occasions, formidable opponent.
 But as Jadge. liis character and taIenes
 shine with peculiar lustre. His cOurteons-
 ness, his kindness to the younger m0mhsrs , of the bar, his readiness in possessing hiiza> self at glance of the strong poiuts in cases intricate and difficult to be grasped at by ordinary minds, his freedom from Proja. dice and his undisguised abh0rrence oE fraud, have secured for him, at the sane time, the affection and the Feyerencs ok the legal profession throughous the StAse. His written opinions. which make up 60 llarpe Q proportion of the judicial dec.sioas of Connec. c.icut, will constitute monument 10 his memory, chaste, simple. yet enaus. ing as the instisutions with which they ars !. incorporated.
 There IS at tho same time terseness and scholar -like finish to these opinions,
 which it is believed is rarely equaied in { the American books oi Reports.
 Such is brief outline of the life and
 characteristics of aan who has always loved the shades of retirement, and who
 has como before the public eye only in 1. obedience to the call of his fellow citizens: | who has spent his best days in perfscting the laws of his native State, ana softening their more rigorous features, withoat tak> ing away anything from their aulhority. :. That his life may be iong protracted, an , cloudless to the last, is the wish of large ! circle oC friends and acquaintances who have known him only to esteem and honee him. s8