The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-03-25
The Circuit Court.

The Greenville Neavs announces that Judge
Cooke has determined to hold the special term
ordered for Anderson County, beginning on the
29th inst His Honor has concluded to take
up the sessions business and get through with
the criminal dockets, in order to prevent a
protracted term in May, when the farmers will
be too busy to remain away long from their
farms. He thinks this course will give general
satisfaction, and has been settled upon from the
fact that the recent heavy freshets will interfere
with farming operations to a considerable ex-
tent. This arrangement is regarded as COM
promise made by Judge Cooke between con-
aicting opinions as to the necessity of spe-
cial term. The civil business will not be trans
acted, and no one will object to ajail delivery,
which will satisfy lawyers who were opposed
to special term at this time while those who
urged the necessity of special term will gain
their point in certain sense, although their
prime object of clearing all the dockets is vir-
tually defeated.
1t is unfortunate that the regular terms pro-
vided by law are too often neglected. Prompt
and vigorous prosecution of the business will
prevent the people from being harassed with
doubt and uncertainty. 1t is an onerous and
burdensome duty for men to forsake their pri'
vate affairs, and serve as jurors or witnesses
but this requirement of the law must be per-
formed for the good of society, and we have
no doubt that every one would willingly dis
charge these duties at the regular periods de-
signated by law, without murmuring or COM
plant of any kind. Yet it is expecting too
much for witnesses and jurors to be summoned
from term to term, only to meet with disap-
pointment when they reach the Court House,
and learn that their services are not needed.
Such has frequently been the case within the
last two or three years, and we would respectful
iy suggest that q change might prove beneficial.
This condition of affairs is not peculiar to the
Eighth Circuit and others have more right to
complain than the people of this County. But
itdoes not mitigate the burden to learn that 9th
ers are afflicted with greater tardiness and
procrastination in the administration of justice,
and we are confident that Judge Cooke will
receive the warmest congratulations from all
good citizens when he determines to prosecute
the public business with promptness, certainty
and dispatch. Extra terms..will always be neces'
sary when the regular terms are passed over,
and when once the dockets are cleared, there
will be ample time for the transaction of all
business, civil and ciminal, within the time
allowed by law. Surely, litigation in Anderson
is not on the increase in fact, lawyers tell US
that business is distressingly dull, as the doc
tors are wont to say in healthy season. Every
regular term the criminal business ought to
meet with certain dispatch, and every other
term, if necessary, might be devoted to clean
ing away litigated cases. Such an arrange
ment would prevent much annoyance and
trouble to the people, who are perplexed
enough with public duties and exactions,
without being required to undergo extra and
unsual burdens.