The New York herald., 1870-12-25
HOLIDAY WEEK m THE COURTS.
What Was, What Is and What
-
Is to Be.

has Deen proceeded with In most summary man
ner.
During the holiday week there viii be but very
little doing among the legal fraternity. Most or the
Judges, In accordance with time-honored custom.
win avail themselves or week OF respite from their
laDors, which will enable them all the better to
enter with renewed spirit and vgor upon the oner-
Gus and pressing duties awaiting them during the
new year, now 40 auspiciously dawning upon us. II
will likewise be week OF corresponding Ia sort OF
part pass repose to the lawyers that few OF them
at least who from out the legion OF legal Mcawbers
who give. move and have their beingn In this
great metropolis, and who are almost hope
lessly waiting from year to year for something
to turn up in their line have work 10 do
and require some relaxation from their labors.
Business, however, win by no means be at stand
still In the courts The machinery OF the law, like
the machinery that keeps the planets In motion and
the HERALD ahead Of all competitors In the race OF
journalism, partakes somewhat OF the principle OF
perpetual motion, and while the legal wheel will
still revove 1t will be at slow time during the holi.
days; but yet, the philosopher OF Printing House
square so frequently babbers out. "the world (of
law still moyes,n In
THE FEDERAL COURTS
! there are none but the national holidays OBJ
served-that Is, there Is no holiday week for the
federal Judges The business on The calendar must
the rest Of the worlds at play But OF course there
are occasions when the work Is not pressing and the
judges are "ofY for the holidays"
There IS an order of federal officials, however,
who. with the exception OF the holidays re-
ferred to, must be at their posts day
in and daY out. These are the United States
Commissioners committing magistrates, as new
fedged lawyers In their maiden efforts VIII
continually din into their ears, until the bored Com
| ,vtlI taa io tn tcon ho
"nedglmgn for contempt OF court and whose duty
as commissioners, or committing magistrates"
requires their daily attendance in their respective
courts. These gentlemen are not so badly of, after
all, as there is an understanding among them that
in the absence Of one another shall act In the bus
ness OF taking anldavits and Issuing warrants ana
dcferring cases Tor day or twoOr until the proper
Commissioner appointed Tor some special business
has returned TO his post
THE STATE CoURTs-suPREME COURT, CHAMBERS AND
OYER AND TERMiNER.
Here the eXigencies OF business requires some dc.
parture from the general rule In the Supreme
Court Judge Ingraham Will sit in Chambers on and
after Tuesday. The Court Of oyer and Termlner,
with Judge Cardozo on the bench, VIII meet also,
| resume It's slttngs on Tuesday, aud probably con
tlnue In session all the week.
THE OTHER BRANCHES
OF the Supreme Court VIII remain closed until the
Sd Of January the lun enjoyment o. the holidays
being included In the programme. In the
SUPERIOR COURT
Judge Mcneil on and after next Tuesday will
hold Special Term. There win be no other courts
open except on next Saturday, wnen all the judges
will sit IN General Term TO render some decisions
and wind up the business OF the year.
1t is to be hoped that Judge Mcneil will have no
press OF business on him to preclude him from the
full enjoyment Of the season.
THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS.
This very respectable, OLD fogysh concern-the
counterpart OF the antique English Court OF Chan
Gerry, which much learned dotishness
and empiricsm have presided-has made no
sign, as usual, to how 1t Is going to
enjoy itself during the holidays. Whether
1t s going to make New Year calls visit the Mayor,
go in state to pay Its respect to Peter Bismarck
Sweeny, visit Joe Jeferson's Rip Van Winkle
settle down to quiet rubber at whist doze over
the interval between this and the Tuesday after New
Years, has not been announced. The probabilities
however, are that nothing win be heard OF the Com
mon Pleas till the close the alternating season
and new term comes In with new year.
IN TILE MARINE COURT
there Is work enough cut out to employ all the
Judges OF this favorite de,iter resort Of tgants,
whose tales OF sorrow and loss can be healed by a
favorable verdict FOR any sum to $1,000 TO which
the Jurisdiction OF the court under the new law ex.
tends The six judges are "in arms,n with the ex-
ception OF one OF them who is Europe and Of whom
we cannot speak positively but would say he is IN
arms, too and "eager for the Fray" But under the
pressure or the holidays and as, indeed, they are
all native or naturazed citizens, they so to the
manner born or so acclimated TO 1t that not one OF
them but would willingly succumD to the inf1ences
Of the season rather than expose, In good-tem-
pered way, himself TO the consequences Of con.
flict with the inevitable ollity attending the cele.
bration or "Merry Christmas In old Gotham. "Alt
work and no play makes Jack dull boy.n Is IA tru-
ISM also Is it true that rest and relaxation but
nerve the system for fresh EFFORTS to work ana
labor. and this truism Judge Joachimsen may apply
to himself while he takes his "ottuna cum dfg'i-
tate," awaiting the resumption or business in his
court.
THE COURT OF GENERAL SESSIONS
will open on the third day OF the new year, Judge
Cunning s. Bedford presiding We would wish to
be able to record that the labors OF the presiding
Judge for The January term OF the new year were OF
a lighter character than that which the calendar
predicts. The sautary influences, IL is true, OF the
good work done in this, the highest criminal court in
the county. during the past three months could not
be expected to show its fruit ali at onceas OF the
cases yet on trial those Of offenders under ndlct
ment previous to Judge Bedford ana Recorder
Hackett putting the to the root OF the tree and
which has struck such terror throughout the COM
muny to evildoers The mills OF the Gods grind SLOW
but sure and so with the enginery OF the law-when
fearessly, relentessly and inexoraby appled-then
the evil.doer must go down before It, But to erect
this purpose and to really strike terror to those
who live by outrage and crime It Is necessary that
the District Attorney apply himself TO his legitimate
work OF prosecution. He stands between the peo-
pie and the aggressor, and he practically gives I'M
munity and accords lmpunity to the murderer, the
parroter and the burglar when beyond moment
eS the time allotUed by law TO the defence he delays
in bringing criminal before the bar OF justice TO DC
dealt with as the Court and o jury OF his country,
men NAV determine. The citizens have approved
the work Of the City Judge In the past and they are
ready to give fresh and steadfast approval 10 siml
lar course OF that impartial justice whlcn the sterh