The Cecil Whig., 1873-05-24
OUR JUDICIAL SYSTEM.
THE JUDGES AND THE EAR,

Mr.. EDIroR:-It must be admitted,
that there exists in the public mind some
dissatisfaction with the working of "Our
Judicial System" The grounds of com.
plant are two-fold: One is that Justice is
not speedy; the other is, justice is too
expensive. Are these causes of complaint
chargeable to the system now in existence ?
Previous to the constitution of 1851, Judges
Chambers, Eccleston and Hopper, admins
ed justice, if we remember rightly, with
no complaints of delay or extravaganza.
| Courts then rarely lasted over ten DAYS,
and the taxpayers did not grumble at the
great expense of the courts as they do now.
Under the lone judge" system our courts
were multiplied in the number of the terms
held, and expenses were somewhat increas-
ed. This increase of expenditure was not
charged upon the judges, but rather upon
the system of special judges, and the num-
Der OF States attorneys and special attor-
neys employed in the administration of the
criminal law.
In your editorial last week, in reply to
"N," under the caption of "The Bar Vim
dicated,' you treat the case as though the
increase of the expenses of our courts re-
suited mainly from tho fact that three
Judges are now sitting, when one formerly
performed the duties, and as conse-
quence, the tax payers are paying $500
for services which formerly cost them
S2,5W. This statement is very inaccurate
and unfair. Our three judges, it should be
remembered, presided over five counties.
Under the constitution of 1864, in these
same counties, we had with Judge Price
whose jurisdiction also included Harford)
three Judges, having no duties to perform
in the Court of Appeals. Under the pres
ent system the labor of the Circuit is i'm
posed upon three judges, Judge Robinson,
the chief Judge, being engaged, at least
half his time in the Court of Appeals.
The salary of the chief Judge is So, 500.
The associate judges $4,000 each. These
salaries are extremely moderate, and after
paying expenses leave but slim chance
for the judges to provide for their old age
or lay up a sum for rainy day. When
the increased rates of living and the liberal
advances lately made in the salaries of the
United States Judges and those of other
States are considered, to call these salaries
extravagant, is simply ridiculous.
Your editorial disavows anything per-
sonal in your attack on "Our judicial Sys
tenn give you full credit for the dsa-
vowal. Our judges are certainly entitled
to the confidence and support of every fair
man in the community. They are ali gen
tlemen of distinguished learning and high
character, and manifestly have no other
purpose but to mete out justice with an
even hand, without "fear, favor or affec-
tion."
Your correspondent undertakes to vindi-
cate the Bar. See how he makes out his
case. He says: under Judges Constable
and Price, the lawyers were allowed "to
discuss every question of law and tact, to
their and their clients hearts content"
" unbridled by any rules to stop them
The judges have then, it is admitted by
him, made some attempt to br,dle and hold
back the lawyers in their long winded
speeches on the law and facts, which are
both in most cases, as we'll understood by
the Court and Jury as the lawyer These
rules are, of course, made to save delay and
expense, and the judges should have III the
credit they deserve, for making and enforc-
ing these rules. In his vindicaton of the
bar, your correspondent might well have
given you information in regard to the
character OF the guilty, which have, of late
years so incumbsred the docket of the
Court. Meritorious suitors have been
patiently waiting for their cases to be
tried, while the Taxpayers of the county
have groaned over the bill of expenses
incurred in paying juries and other charges
in such cases as the Neville cases, the
Bryson rs. Cloud cases, tho Mckay cases,
the Dof cases and the Ceciton cases. in
some of which the cnterprising lawyers
were rewarded with contingent fee, and
the damages obtained were l cent current
money. Are the Judges or the Bar re-
sponsble for the time SO uselessly occupied
by our Courts in disposing of such cases
This is question which is respectfully
submitted for consideration, in treating
the subject of Sour Judicial System.''
LITTLE Elk.