New-York tribune., 1872-07-22
JUDICIARY Reform.
HOW TO SECURE HONEST JUDGES.

To the Edttor Of The Tribune.
SIR: Some Of the incidents connected with
the trials Of the judges before the Senate bring vyidy
before the question, so often asked: " How we
honest Judcaryi" The public mind has, for
time past been agated by the question OF reform
in the Civil Service. such reform Is essential to the
welfare OF the state and the Nation but how much more
important Is 1t that we should the Judiciary and
obtain judges who know the law and fear not 20 expound
H. For without a proper administration Of the law
there be respect for lfe liberty or property
and this being wanting, community can prosper Yet
the Press all parts Of the country teens with charges
the integrity Of judges; are these charges
made in partisan spirit only they come from the organs
OF both parties as well from independent newspapers
Here In orr own city. and in Brooklyn, acknOw-
edged criminals leave the co Is unpuushed OF escape
with merely nominal penalty For years we nave seen
a band Of swInCers who had fraudulenty obtained pos
session Of the vast wealth OF llc corporation, haiu
tanning their power by the ara OF the JUICES anu tne
law And punish them 1t has been found necessary 70
remove the uI from The AeId Oi LLcI dHecl personal
what IL the remeiv4 On the one side stands the dem
agoguo, CRYING The Judges are the servants OF me
people. and should by them be selected: Lux we nave
effects oi the elective system-the Lue robbers
the city thieves. the political roughs secure IN ther a"
nssnes the swlnders projected Dy the Judges
should appointed 10y the esdent But are there not
two men to-day on tie Supreme Bench OF the country
thur views certain important question whlcA WOuld
cone before the supreme Court Ana nave we nog le
j
nominees OF whom, at least Is universally ackDowl,
edged 10 De highly fitted for the position propOseu
Hge we these men rejected because they pc
locd the party ia opposition 10 the majority OF Jhc
seuteg A prominent member OF the bar one whose
name is almost synonym lOr earnest reiOIiner sald 10
lac recently. would accept no position on tAe beAcA
Ur will anv ~ Our abler lawyers incur the suspicion 0i
Bvug sought popularity, or Of having stopped I'd pe-
c,me recipients Of public favor And, Dcsldcs' tle
/ I,zal sallrICs insufficient. Any prtCtlcal
ilgycr can earn money than his legitimate income
Ia Judge" Thus that the most venerable branch
uf he Government is TIE prey OF the worst class O law
va aud even n those who know nothing OF tAe law
vile The better men cOntemptuOuslv stand aiOOi Hap
py there is remedy. As the Judges are naturally 70
hfClosrn from the bar let Us have al aDe ana hoAt7
IT, Make stringent rules for admission thereto, ana
Incorporate bar association having powers ana at the
smc time well defined responsibilities whose dlt1 10
Ia De to preserve the integrity OF ITS members. NAb
Ia us distinguish the courts d. three grades the u'
5urt of original jurisdiction the second court ul dp
PALS: and the third. court OF constitutional law ana
il ms make ten years service at tine bar condloh Oh
audlacv for judicial position. and MAKE service IN
fqcb grdp necessary 70 elevation Appoint the Judges
lafter competitive examination making the members
1 ach court or OF the next higher COURT the board Oh
Il crs: and let not forget % 20 increase the salary
o fhe Judges that honest can afford 10 be Judges
Ouv by some such reform these suggestions enDOdy
lam we hope 10 arrest the corruption now re IN the
J1dcary and hope again 70 have an honest incorupt
~. I,.rc, a. q. A.
| He,o- York, July l6. 1872