The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1871-09-29
The Northumberland and Montour Judgship.

Judge of that district because of alledg.
ed want of sufficient practice al the bar.
The objection itself is without force and
when main cause of it is TO be found
in the fact that Mr.. SCOTT left his lcgit.
innate business to battle In the Union
army, in place of such men as his as.
sailant, who staid at homo, loyal gen.
tlemen should not find fault.
When Chief Justice GIBSON was first
appointed to the bench the same OBJ
lection was urged against him, yet
he became the most distinguished OF
the bright galaxy of Pennsylvania
Judges whose opinions are quoted
wherever law Is known. GIBSON never
conducted cause in court, yet there is
not lawyer in Pennsylvania who does
not regard his judicial opinions with
reverence. Judge STORY was appoint
ed TO the bench of the Supreme Court
of the United States when only twenty
| six years Of age, and he adorned even
that bench Of great Judges In both
these cases the appointing powers knew
the learning and ability OF the man
they appointed, and these wise men
did not consider that experience in the
trial of petty criminals and spiteful law
suits was such legal learning as gave
qualifications to d Judge. If the Mon
tour american had then existed to en-
| tighten them, the State and the Nation
would have lost two of its brightest ju-
dicial stars, and the legal profession will
thank kind fortune that it did not pro-
duce this modern luminary until after
GIBSON and STORY had filled their
Libraries with the most profound and
thorough expositi0nS of the principles
Of law.
There is, however, a solid objection to
Mr.. RoCKAFELLEE, the Republican
opponent OF Mr.. SCOTT. Personally we
know nothing about him, but his sup
porters say he has very large practice
in the district. Itso, his election would
impose upon the district heavy ex-
pense and most grievous burthen. We
know lawyers will say otherwise, but
we speak from a long experience in
another district. Not only Is the trial
of causes disarranged and tediously
postponed, but the expenses of trial are
greatly increased. The Judges from
other districts who are called to try the
cases in which the sitting Judge was
counsel, fail to attend very frequently
, and often can not be obtained. We
have known parties enough to be ready
, for trial, with all their numerous wit
nesses, to keep court employed for a
full week, yet after appearing at the
: county seat and perhaps waiting a day
: or two, would be Informed that the
Judge was not coming and therefore
y their cases must 60 over All the ex-
t pense of the attending jurors, &c. would
, of course have to be paid by the county.
! Both county and parties to suits are
= thereby heavily taxed, and the incon-
r veniences of the latter are most vexa-
: tious. The delays occasioned by this
/ cause arc not the least evils to be con.
/. sidered. In the case we refer to-Judge
1 LINN, in the Clinton dstrict-some of
G his causes didnot reach trial during his
: whole term on the bench, although the
T.. parties were generally at Court and
II constantly expecting and urging trial.
V This is a sample of the effect of electing
r a lawyer in large practice to the Judg-
+. ship of the district in which he prac-
- tices.
We are well aware that some lawyers
will recklessly dispute this, and none
+ will thank us for stating the fact, for
they are always anxious to get the law
s yer of the largest practice on the bench.
j. 1t takes him out of their way and makes
l. more business for them. But we have
given the result of our experience in a
c district where the thing was tried twice,
} and to the facts stated we are both q
y living and interested witness. We say,
therefore, that the argument that Mr..
Z RoCKAFELLEa has large practice in
J. his district is grave and potent reason
Z why he should not be elected, instead
of being an argument in his favor.
Lawyers in large practice very com
:, monty make the poorest, most inotfi-
y cient and nearly always most tedious
Of Judges. We have been witness OF
- that fact, too. The qualifications that
n make lawyer successful practitioncl
- al the bar arc not those that make hin
:, an efficient Judge. Close habits ofstudy
and logical thought, firm nerve and in
IA dependence Of mind, the capacity t
A. distinguish right from wrong intuitive
i ly, or to sift justice out Of conflicting o
70 doubtful testimony, and executive ahil
ity, arc the leading qualifications desir
Of ed in Judge, but these are rarely &C
at quired by mere jury lawyers or lawyer
m of largo practice in petty business
Rather, they are bluntod and lost sigh
ot Of. by the extensive practitioner. Al
ho intellectual man we'll read in the lay
N and other sciences ard practical infui
m nation, possessing the other qualities
tions suggested, will nearly alway
make superior Judge, while mer
,e' successful practitioner is very liable
'a' prove failure
iii.
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