The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1869-04-14
Reorganization of the Federal
Courts.
Courts.

some time having for its object the re
5 organization of the Courts of the Uni
ted States. 1t has passed both House
J IN some shape or other but has me
with amendments in each, and at las
accounts had not become a law. It j
expected, however, to become a lay
before the adjournment of the presen
session.
The bill preserves all the best fea
lures of the Act of 1889, which has s,
long stood the test of time, and EN-
bodies others which we think very SAL
utary. The Associate Justices of tbe
Supreme Court are to be restored to
their original number of eight, and the
District Courts are to remain very
nearly as at present organized. But q
radical and most important change is
to be made in the organization Of the
circuit Courts, the Bill requiring a
circuit Judge to be appointed for each
OF the nine Circuits into which the
United States are divided. This is n
decided Improvement on the old svs-
tenn. After the arduous labors of q
long session of the Supreme Court. the
additional duties of Circuit Judge
constitute rather too heavy a drain on
the physical powers of the Supreme
Court Justices. The consequence has
been that too often the Circuit Courts
have been held by the District Judges
without the assistance of the Supreme
Judge who sits for the Circuit. IF
a Circuit Judge should be appointed
and the dignity of the Office will ever
secure the best legal talent-a Circuit
Court, can always be held in eyerv
circuit, and the dockets will not he
'rowded, as heretofore, with cases
Which cannot be disposed of for want
# time.
In the analysis of the bill which wa
AVE seen we have been unable to form
clear idea of the clause which pro-
'ides for the disposition of Judge of
he Supreme Court when he shall have
.ttained the age of sixty years. Under
ne old Constitution OF the State of
'eW York Judge who attained that
sc was forced to retire from the bench
AN absurd law which lost to the
ountry the splendid legal learning of
Kent for more than a quar-
Or OF a century. Under the Bill be- !
're Congress, if we understand If s
ghtly, judge who arrives at the are c
sixty certifies the fact to the Presi-
ent, and if he is physically unable to a
erform his duties he is excused from a
uty with his full salary continued for !,
fe. But whether his place is to be
lied by new appointment, or whether
le Court is to consist of the remaining v
idges. we have been unable to decide a
ON the meagre abstract of the bill Fl
fore us. The object is evidently to j
cure vigorous bench, without de- a
living an old and faithful judge of his c.
cans of support towards the close of t
5 life. T
The Act of 1889, which was drawn Il
Oliver Ellsworth, is replete with c,
sdom, and has answered the purpo- T
of the government for eighty wears. a,
10 increasing extent and population m
the country demand modification n,
the judicial system, though we think G.
modification should he very slight O,
.. The bill before Congress, drawn lie
'haps by Judge Trumbull, gives evil tie
Ice of sound craftsmanship in its VI
hor, and is in striking contrast, we ma
happy to say, with the political us
Sering with the bench during the
few years, for the purpose of pros fal
ting the ermine to the basest of an
ty purposes.
a. There is nothing purer thur homes is
nothing sweeter than charity; moth the
warmer than love nothing brighter Ri,
virtue, and nothing more steadfast air
faith, These united in one mind, wis
the purest, the sweetest, the richest, ant
brightest aud most steadEast happi- one