The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1874-08-29
The Police Magistracy of Honolulu.

District Justices are by law appointed by the
Governors of the different Islands, by and with the
advice of the Justices of the Supreme Court, and
the law also provides that one of the District
Justices appointed for the first district of Oahu
shall, by appointment, be Police Justice for the
port of Honolulu and further, that /" said justices
shall hold Office for the term of two years from the
date of their appointment, subject to removal as
prescribed by the Constitution ; and upon the ex-
piration of the commission of any such justice, the
same shall be renewed or another person appointed,
as shall most 'conduce to the well-being of the
Kingdom"
On Monday last, the 24th inst, the commission
of John Montgomery, Esq, (who has filed the Office
of Police Magistrate of Honolulu for the past ten
years. having expired on the previous Saturday,
W. c. Jones, Esq, a well-known member of the
bar. and who has resided in the Islands since 1865,
was appointed 10 the position. We believe this
new appointment gives general satisfaction. On
the opening of the Court, Monday morning, the
commission was read by Mr.. W L. Wilcox, the In
terpreter, after which Judge Jones spoke as follows:
On taking my seat on the bench of the Police
Court, / will remark that in the performance of my
duties, / shall act Independently and be governed
by the Constitution and the laws. / come to the
bench without prejUdices. have no private inter-
ests to subserVe. L shall know neither friend nor
enemy. l shall be "unawed by influence and
ny kaiut duu ndNluS equity anu JuSltCC
in view shall discharge my duty impartially and
cOnscientiously. and while l shall have q strict
regard for the rights of the citizen, I shall maintain
the majesty Of the law.
Towards the members of the bar / shall observe
professional courtesy and personal respect, and
shall expect the same in return. And / respect
fully solicit your aid in maintaining that cordially
and harmony, which should ever subsist between
the bar and the Court. j know of no reason why
the proceedings of this Court should not be con-
Quoted with the same ~solemnity dignity and deco
rum, as those of the Supreme Court of the Kingdom.
1 shall expect the cooperation of the officers of
the Court, and on my part shall do all / can to aid
them in the performance of their duties, and l trust
that harmony may ever prevail in our mutual
efforts to preserve law and order.
To which Mr.. A.. S. Hartwell, one of the bar,
responded
MAY IT PLEASE Your HONOR Some of the gen
tlemen of the bar are detained by other engage
ments, or they would be present. They have not
asked me to speak for them, but so far as they will
allow me to speak for them, and for myself. 1 well
come you to this position of usefulness and dignity.
To my mind the Police Court of this city, is a
tribunal Of great Importance to the nation. 1t
takes primary jurisdiction OF crimes, 1t has admi-
rally jurisdiction, and cases which affect our rela-
tions with other countries are constantly arising
here. The Supreme Court itself. although essential
as the final arbiter of our rights, is in its practical
eYery-day-working Of hardly more Importance.
For some reasons it may be well to have a judi
cial course begin early in ones practice, while the
mind, not yet encrusted and biased by prejudice
and by Fixed lines of thought, is apt to take fresh
and impartial Impressions. The ~animosity and
keen excitement often engendered by active
forensic life will sometimes follow one to the
bench. But surely the experience of long years
Of study and practice at the bar should be of value.
The one who has not carried about with him per-
sonal bitterness towards legal opponents, and who
has never forgotten the amenities of the bar, the
judicial post will only bring larger opportunities
Of usefulness. There are those whose minds are of
that calm and philosophical and impartial bent,
that they can at any time throw old predictions
to the winds If the cause of justice seems to require
it. 1 am confident that the cause of law and
justice will be safe with you. The bar will most
cheerfnlly cooperate in securing that decorum
and dignity which are Citing for the tribunal, and
will gladly welcome one of their brethren to his
uaU AntiaS