Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1858-03-25
JOHN CALHOUN
The 18th Judicial District.

4 BIZ has been introduced into the Legisla-
ture by JOHN '. SMITH. of Wyoming county,
to annhilate the 18th Judicial District, com
posed Of the countics of Bradford and Susoue-
hanna. The Bill proposes to annex Susque-
hanna to Luzerne county and Bradford to the
26th Judicial District composed of the coun.
ties of Sullivan, Columbia and Wyoming.
The reason assigned by the petitioners for
this measure is that the fair administration
of justice demands the passage Of such law, -
that Judge WnMoT is partial to his political
friends, and that it is impossible for demo
crat to obtain tavern license in his district, y
and that he makes political speeches at the
time Of holding his courts" &c, &c. These
arc few of the charges laid against him, and
for which Judge WILMor, himself is not to suf-
fer, directly, but the people Of the whole dis
trict nsust be deprived of electing their own
Judge, because the present incumbent has dis
pleased portion of his political opponents.
If Judge WILMoT has violated the sacred OBJ
legation which he has taken-if he has shown
favor to his friends and wronged his oppo-
nents-in short, if he has laid himself in any
way liable in his proceedings while on the
Bench, why are the charges made boldly
against him why is he not tried ana prrTish-
ed for mSdemeanor in Office Surely he
should be the one to sufrer-not his constitu-
ents.
The motive Of the prime-movers in this mat
ter is too apparent to admit of doubt. Dis
guise it as you may-say Justice demands it
call it matter of expediency- -economy-then
'ook behind the screen, and behold envy. NAL
ice, and spite, then talk of Justice The idea
is absurd in the extreme
We are no political friends of Judge WI
MoT's, but as u man aud Judge we respect
and honor him. We have had Il fair opportu-
nifty of observing his official conduct since his
election, and are free to confess that we have
never seen or heard (from what we consider
reliable source) the least Indication Of partial
ity, fear, favor or affection, in his adnsinistra
ton of jnstcc. 1t is true he has made poIit
cal speeches while holding courts in the differ
ent counties in his district this we consider
out of place for Judge to do, and that is all
the charge that can be justly laid against Judge
WILMcT
The inconsistency in the argument that there
is no need on the 18th judicial district, and as
matter of economy to the State, it should be
divided up and distributed among the adioin-
ing districts, is apparent when We take into
consideration that the l3 Judicial district was
erected expressly for the relief of Judge Cox.
YNGIiAM of the Luzcrne district and this Bill
proposes to annex Susquehanna county to his
circuit, thereby imposing upon him more Judi
cial labor than he had previous to the forma-
tion of the 26th district
We understand that all the Judges who are
to be affected by this arrangement are strong
ly opposed to this measure. Judge WooD
WARD as well as Judge CoNYxGHAM have al
ready quite as much labor to perform as they
can conveniently manage, and to annex more
territory to their districts, thereby almost
doubling their official abors, world, we think
be imposing an insult upon them, which the
honors OF the position would scarcely counter
balance. We hear it reported-but do not
vouch for the authenticity of the report
that Judge CoNvNGHM has expressed his de-
termination to resign his commission if he is
thus to be imposed upon.
Now taking another view of the matter
Supposing Bradford to be attached to the 36th
JndlcIal district over which Judge WOODWARD
presides. Bradford, which has more votes
than all the rest of the district, would have no
voice IN choosing Judge to preside over her
Courts. On the other hand, should vacan-
cy occur, and an election become necessary,
as the politics of the district now stands, Judge
WiLMor, with that 1900 black republican ma
jority in Bradford would ask for no easier task
some fine October morning, than to place his
hnger on his nose-give a knowing wink to
his political prosecutors, and sic slap down on
the Bench so nicely cushioned by his most bit
ter enemies. We have no desire to try anv
such experiment. Our district is good enough
as it is, and our advice is-let we'll enough
alone.
Should the Legislature in ts wisdom, think
proper to pass this Bill, it will establish de-
cIdediy bad precedent, and if the opposition
ever obtain Legislature we may expect to
see every democratic Judge in the State Leg
islated out of -SuHiran Co. Democrot