Cairo evening times. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1865-1866, 1865-10-14
THE CIRCUIT JUDGESHIP.


THE CIRCUIT JUDGESHIP.
The resignation Of Judge Mulkey, has made
q vacancy which it will be very difficult to fill,
for several reasons: First, there are but few
lawyers in the District qualified for the posi-
ton, as before the presiding Judge of the Cir
cult Court are presented Chancery and other
important cases, demanding we'll educated
mind, and the possessor of high order oflegal
acumen to adjudicate upon. Secondly, the
salary is insufficient, being only $1,000 year
and docket fees, which probably amount to
81, 900 additional; it will be found difficult to
find lawyer Of acknowledged ability and
corresponding practice, who would trade such
practice for the empty honor realized in the
title Judge" A lawyer qualified for the
position of Judge Of this the Third Judicial
District, can realize by his practice from three
to five times much as he could earn from a
Judgeship. Thirdly, the duties, though saem-
ingly less arduous, are really more pressing
pertaining to the practicing lawyer, az upon
him, in the majority of cases, rests the impor-
tant responsibility of deciding upon the law
bearing thereon, and sitting out all extraneous
matter bearing upon such cases, but prejud-
cial to law and equity.
1t is not to be wondered at therefore, that
the announcement that Judge Mulkey had re-
signed, created amongst the legal fraternity and
many others, serious futtering, and the inter-
rogatory has passed from one to another ''who
car we get to fill the vacancy?'
Judge Mulkey was elected to fill the vacancy
occasoned by the death of Judge jenkins, and
his term would not expire by limitation until
June 1867. The Constitution provides that
when the unexpired term occasioned by va
cancy is less than one year, the vacancy shall
be filed by executive appointment; otherwise
by an election of the people The people will
therefore be called upon to place man of their
choice upon the bench vacated by Judge
Mulkey.
The position Of Judge being one purely legal
in its character, politics should not be permit
ted to figure in the selection of the man on
whom the ermne shall be placed. We care
not how honest man may be if he is Indebted
10 party influence for position, his prejudices
are apt to be excited and controlled by the
passions and members Of such party, and it be-
hooves us as a people to place upon the bench
a man who will feel, in taking his position, that
the people, without distinction Of party, elected
him, and that in order to secure the distinctive
honor, he did not descend into political ken
nels, nor were friends for political or sci,
fish motives, the instruments of his elevation.
In selecting a man, the question of eligibility
should not be lost sight OF. The law says tc
be eligible the man must be thirty years o.
age, a citizen of the United States, of the State
five years, and of the District for which he
is elected, three years.
We have given this matter considerable
thought and careful reflection, and respectfully
suggest as u man in every way qualified for he
position, Hon. w. ii. GREEN of this city Mr..
G.. ranks high as u gentlemen of legal attain
ments, and his social status amongst us is
proud and distinctive. His reputation through.
out the State is 10y no means inconsiderable
but extended and creditablc, and his election tc
the judgeship indicated would reflect credi
and honor upon us as a people, and shed ,
lustre upon the bench upon which he woult
preside. He has resided in the city thre
years, aud is in every respect eligible. w
have not conversed with Mr.. c. on this sub
iect, neither are we authorized by any OF hi
friends to say that he will accept the posito
irtendercd him. but for reason which W
l;,tIa tlati
it were rendered to him as the voluntary an
unanimous Offering of the people among whom
lac lives and who are competent to judge [
his ability aud fitness therefor, he would nc
decline.
The reason we alluded TO above, whic
would enable Mr.. Green to accept tn
judgcsh,p, is predicated on the acknowledge
fact that outside of this judicial District he Ia
very lucrative practice, which his duties a
judge here would scarcely conflict with Sue
practice, together with the business lie woul
do in the Court of Common Pleas, added to hi
salary rs Judge of the Circuit Court, woul
render his income handsome one if not $
great as if he were Off the bench.
As stated before, we offer the above sugges
tons without consulting Mr.. Green, but ft
the common good, and respectfully presel
thom to the members of the bar, and peop
generally, trusting that they will give the
the weight their Importance demands.
PoIsoNED.-Forty persons were poisoned
Shiloh, Randolph county, Ill.,, by taking ca
omcl in which was mixed Corrosive Sublimat
Seven of them have died. The medicine W
procured Of wholesale house in st. Louis,
whom it was imported from England. Dru
gsts should be on the lookout for similar r
suits, from this source-AtOn Democrat.
F1S- Co,ton 10 renorted "a canning in free