The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1865-11-23
Supreme Court Of Pennsylvania.


i We are frequently asked when the term
of such or such Judges of the Supreme
Court Of this State expires /; or when this
or that judge died; and who was elected to
serve in place such or such a judge. The
following articles gives complete history
of the Bench, from 1S51-the year we
first elected Judges under the amended
Constitution, down to the present time.
1t is matter of interest to many.
In 1850 the Constitutional Amendment
making all the Judges of this Common
wealth elective by the people, was perfec
ted. During the session of 1851 the
Legislature divided the State into Judi
cial districts, and made all other provis
ions requisite to give full effect to this
change in the organic law In the fol-
lowing autumn the first election for Jud
ges were held.
For the Supreme bench, the democrats
nominated Jeremiah S. Black of Somerset.
Ellis Lewis of Lancaster, John B. Glib
son of Cumberland, Walter H. Lowrie of
Allegheny, and James Campbell of Phil
adelphia
The wings nominated Richard Coulter
of Westmorelaud, Joshua w. Comfy of
Montour, George Chambers of Franklin,
VIM, NJ. Meredith of Philadelphia, and
William Jessup Of Susquehanna
All the ademocrts were elected except
Campbell who fell behind bis ticket be-
cause good many democrats would not
vote for an Irishman and Catholic, or
because they deemed him incompetent
for the place. The only whig elected
was Coulter
The Judges elect drew lots for the pc
riod each was to serve. Black drew for
three years, Lewis for six. Gibson for
nine, Lowrie for twelve, and Coulter for
the full term of fifteen years Black,
having the shortest term, was Chief JUS
tice
Coulter died in April 1852. To fill
the vacancy, the Wings nominated 10.
seph Burlington of Armstrong; the dem
ocrats, Geo. W. Woodward of Luzcrue
Woodward was elected.
Gibson died in May, 1858 For the
vacancy the Wings nominated Thomas A
Budd of Philadelphia the democrats,
John c. Knox of Tioga. Knox Was e
lected.
In 1854 the democrats nom mated
Black for re election the wings nomina-
ted Daniel NJ. Smyser of Montgomery
Black was elected. Lewis became Chief
Justice.
In 1857 the democrats nominated WIN
Strong of Berks, in the place Of Black
who had accepted the Office of Attorney,
General under President Buchanan, aud
James Thompson of Erie, in place of Lew
is, whose term eff service was expiring
The wings nominated James Veech OF
Fayette, and Thomas j. Lewis of Ches-
ter. Both the democratic candidates
were chosen. Lowrie became Chief Jus
tice
In 1858 the republicans nominated
John NJ. Read of Philadelphia, to Gil the
vacancy made by Knox becoming Attor-
ney General under Gov. Packer. The
democrats nominated w. A. Porter o!
Philadelphia. Read was elected.
In 1868 the democrats nominated Low
rie, who had been Chief Justice SIX years,
for reelection. The republicans nomina-
ted Daniel Agnew of Beaver. Agnew
was chosen. Woodward became Chief
Justice.
Ths bench is now occupied by Wood
ward, whose term will expire in 1867
Strong and Thompson, whose terms will
expire in 1872; Read, whose term will
expire in 1873 /; and Agnew, who will 90
'ut in 1878. If Strong aud Thompson
should both be in service when Wood
wards term shall end, they will cast lots
For the Chief Justiceship.
Of the present Jud ges, as has already
been seen, Woodward, Strong and Thomp
'on were elected as democrats Read aud
Agnew as republicans During the war
Strong has acted with the republicans