New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-10-30
JUDICIAL HONORS.

even without preme Sed purpose On our part; an
even these need the wstnhful observation OF thinkng
mes-much more when great change has been 4de
BY legislation.
In my cpiriop, the great experiment we are now
making b, judicial reform involves chiefly question
bow far we rely upon the individual integrity and
assiduity ofjuoges 1t cannot have escaped observa-
ton that the endard of qualification vs. been very
considerably lei down. We find men holding jadici a
Offices whose experience and professional stindbg are
insufficient pledges for compete7cv and the result is
what might be expected-an inefiicenoy that is fast
undermining the respect and confidence which oar
judiciary formerly commanded, and which is in fact
TIE very basis of social and political stab ity
Look at the candidates for judicisl honors in the
nominating conventions, especially in city 1t
would seem if admission to practice was considered
sufficient qualification for the bench. Oar young
lawyers seem inpatient OF the toll of professional e
and to suppose that they may be put in office first AID
tscerain by tiia if they qualified instead of fur
nisbipg the proof Of qualification beforehand by many
/ years of private service.
/ in The multifom division of parties an opportunity
has been afforded for large number Of candidates ID
come int, the field. Many have been disappointed,
sId we are fortunate that among the nominees We
have some who have been already tried on the bench.
But the tendency of things is unmistakabe. When
ever judicial Office shall be deemed Lot to require pro-
fe.sicnal learning and reputation estabh; he'd by
successful labor it viii not be long before the bench
will have been dis parted from Of age and long
tried worth.
weuld not be understood as ssJng that this period
has now arrived. On the contrary, thre are still those
In office who deserve and possess public confidence,
and there is std existing in this community respect
for counts which it will take long abuse entirely to eI-
tpguish.
speak Of proclivity TO ,ueh result which it be.
comes US to anticipate and guard against But with
out spending more time upon such generaities, it Is
my purI ose to examine of the defects 10 u
disal administration end see how far hoy are TO be
set down 70 the system and how far individual in
competency.
IisweIl kr own that our courts in all the populous
pats Of the State have .cGmulaton Of business
beyond the capacity Of the ndgs. 10 get through With.
Espt ciay is It in this city-and this mus. not be
deemed a mere local inconvenience. The business OF
ibis city is intimately connected with the Interests OF
the whole State Questions OF great magnitude, IN
which parties belonging elsewhere are interested, are
constantly before oar courts. In fine, Whatever Is
essential to sound state of thrgs here cannot DO 10
different to other parts OF the State or the couatry
generally.
LOOK, tnep, lOf u mOutul Nv tuc udtut uuH
Of husnes. ansacted here and at the provision made
by law for the transaction of it, The bar OF New
York is 10 the number of its members more than one
third that OF the whole State. The business done, or
which would be dore if it was practicable, greatly
exceeds that proportion The amount OF capital &C.
lively employed here is immensely greater in proper
ton to our population than ia the interior. So also
is the enterprise developed under the pressure OF
in 9th ri ,v and incl
dent TO this is an augmenatiJn Of Legal transactions
be, ond even the ordinary proportion which they
would bear to capital. Yet in the judicial arrange
ments for the State this district is furnished with
only IRE out Of hrty.tkree judges OF tho Supreme
eout. With such inadequate provision, we should
naturally expect proportionate effort on the part OF
the iudees themselves. / do not say that with any
effort thew might make the business of their courts
could be got along With but In state OF things de-
maIdrg all tie time and energy which can be DC
slowed, the bsr would probably De wiling to dis
perse with the display OF eephsntite wit by Judge
Roosevelt, when the whole chamber business OF tue
court is thereby kept in allegiance. Perhaps they
might even mildly censuIe Judge Morris for carrying
the ps,ers in q csse on fishing excursion IL he
should not think to look for them in the pocket oil
his coat aftervsrd, the htgsns being meantime IN
state of anxious suspense to the result o. bis ardd
Gus deliberations.
Among the Obstacles to Judicial dispatch in this city
and in other parts OF the State may be Inc
practice of writing opinions. 1t Is OF some impor'
! lance to have a well considered dec3ion, but the
labor of preparing 6n opinion, involves, in the great
majority OF ca.es an unnecessary delay TIE grounds
ofdecsor briefly stated for the bensft OF the parties
would in general be sufficient. Eighteen volumes Of
lelots of decisions in the Supreme court Gsae since
/ the ner organization, are significant o. great
I amour. Of labor useessy bestowed. II may Dc sur
missed that this unparalleled gest-t.on o: tee bench
! grows out of sn ampitiOn OF DotoIiey
: Now would suggest that if jGdge wishes to make
display of sene astueness upon trivial n alters IN
teresting only to the il.ant par les or II another
/ thinks proper 10 90 Ito Argument more oen1ins
counsel upon questions il which some persona feel
irg pride OF opinion is involved, they hal better
cer their opiuisns 70 the SntAsoa an institute, waose
business il is 10 take the patronage OF what 10 DOCK
selhrs can afford to publish, and be contsnt WITH
} place for their productions among other reconcile
matt re reserved for the curiosity OF future achsao'
! ogist. hope Judge Weller vid nos take umbrage Il
any one should suppose him 10 be referred TO IN The
fret category, nor our Judge Woodruff ii assigned
place in the second. They must eIonera.e me from
any such personality and being among the judges Of
test repue can afford TO treat with c0mpl sceuey any
such dsrs special insinuaton. We mean to show
our entire impsItiality by the manner in which we
shall handle other abuses that have not sci touched
rpcn. GRi's1oSE'
N.s- Yorl, Oct. a. 1855
Ths Communication type bsore the
81 the death Of Judge MOr-. A, ther n,t1re IN %,
{ him, Lx We a