Knoxville Whig and chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1875-1882, 1875-05-26
ARE OUR COURTS PROPERLY
RESPECTED?

1t is an unpleasant fact that the
people in these latter days have not
that appreciation of the sacredness
which should attach to Courts of
Justice, and which did distinguish
them in former days. Men no longer
feel while in the presence of the
Courts that they should conduct
themselves with decorum only
equalled by that which characterizes
their conduct while in q house Of
worship. They do not seem to realize
that they are in the presence Of a
tribunal charged with dispensing
even-handed justice between man and
man, to accomplish which, in a way
chat commands respect, due regard
must be had for dignity and decorum.
There is q reason for all this, and it
is time that this reason should be in
quired into. The fact is, a great deal
of the trouble is chargable to the
Courts themselves. They are not as
tenacious in sustaining their rights as
they should be. The law may not be
ample for their proper protection in
all cases, but the privileges with which
they are clothed are not always acted
upon.
In the first place, we believe that
every observing man will agree with
us that too much latitude is given to
attorneys. They are too often want
ing in proper courtesy to each other
and to the Court. Not unfrequent-
" the Courts are disgraced by
scenes of confusion and discord
among lawyers, which would not be
tolerated in a well-regulated bar
room. They bully each other, bad
ger witnesses and suitors, insult the
Judge upon the bench and make the
forms Of justice a mockery. The
courts should not hesitate to exercise
their authority in the imposition Of
heavy penalties for such offenses. If
heavy fines will not restore order
and learn legal gentlemen lessons in
propriety, let something else be re-
sorted to. A marked improvement
will follow in a short time, and such
course will meet with public APP
proval.
And then there is another feature
of our courts that tends to bring
them into disrepute, to which we have
alluded frequently. We mean pro-
fessional jurors. There are not a
few-we were about TO say vaga.
bonds-who lounge about court
houses, throw themselves in the way
Of the Sheriff when a jury is to be
summoned, and thus secure places on
juries, their sole object being the per
diem. viii a verdict rendered by
such men be respected? This evil is
not so easily remedied, but with a
hearty cooperation upon the part of
all the officers of q court a decided
improvement can be made.
Were it not that we might make
this editorial too long, we might al
Jude to professional litigants, who
have studied the character of pro.
fessional jurors, and who manage TO
get their favorites upon juries in i'm.
portant cases, with a view of obtain.
ing unjust and corrupt verdicts. But
we will not allude to this now. We
only wish to call attention to, as
we said at the outset, an unpleasant
fact, one which will be generally adj
mitted, and that is that our courts
are not respected as they should be
1t is bad state of affairs when the
people lose the high respect due t.
judicial tribunals when properly con
Quoted, and where such a state o
= affairs exists a remedy should b,
-, sought.