Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1876-02-10
The Judgeship.

question, Whom shall we choose for
circuit Judge for the next six years ?
is upon US. Shall it be Judge Mills
or some one OF the others named !?
Why not Judge Mills Is there any
the less reason for eiecting him now,
than there was for his election six
years ago? His health is as good,
his mind as clear, and his knowledge
OF the law even moro profound than
it was then.
Two principle reasons are urged
against his reelection, viz: That
many of his decisions have been
revised by the Supreme Court, and
that he ought not to be elected to a
third term.
What proportion of his decisions
nave been revised by the Supreme
Court upon points considered and
passed upon by him has not been
ascertained | am satisfied that d
thorough investigation would show
that he stands as well in this respect,
a. most of the Judges in the state,
and that in most instances where the
decision of the Supreme Court has
been adverse to his ruling, it might
as we'll have been the other way as
far as we are able TO Judge from
reason or precedent. But can We fad
any one to elect to the office, whose
decisions will not in many cases be
reversed by the Supreme Court? Are
any of the gentlemen named as his
successors infalIible? Look at the
cases in which they have appeared in
the Supreme Court and see. You
will find that that Court has differed
with all of them as often as it has
with Judge Mills.
The decisions of Judge Mills have
generally been satisfactory. Not
one case in twenty decided in his
court has been appealed No one
denies his honesty, his keenness of
perception, his thorough knowledge
of the law, and his ability to apply
it. Not one Of the other gentlemen
named in connection with the judge
ship claims in these respects TO be
his superior, and without being con-
sidered over modest, most OF them
could readily admit they are not his
equals. Why, then, this talk of cases
reversed
Why should not a judge be elected
TO a third term. We object to the
Presidents being elected or aspiring
to third term, because it is contrary
to the example of Washington, and
his SUCCESSORS, and, as we believe,
dangerous to the Republic. But pre-
cedent is altogether in favor of q
good Judge being kept long 10 office.
He has no patronage; he is respected
only 80 long as be is upright and able
and any fraud or dishonesty will lead
to his impeachment and removal.
judges are appointed for life in Eng
land, and the world has known no
more upright and learned Judiciary.
The Judges of the federal cOurts in
this country are appointed for life,
and their integrity and ability are
conceded by all, whom the judges of
New York courts held office during
life subject only to impeachment, the
courts of that state were above sns>
picion, and their decisions more
generally respected than they ale
now No lawyer, however able, can
be a good judge from the start.
Experience upon the bench ID essen-
tial to the making Of Q good judge,
and, as q rule, those courts are the
abIest, and can dispatch business
the fastest, whose judges have been
longest on tho bench. 1t follows
that the people generally, and espoci-
ally those who have, or expect to
have, business before the court, are
interested in continuing in office a
good Judge ag long as be IS willing to
serve them,
There are some obvious objections
TO changing the Judge, that should ~
fuence us not to do so unless for
good cause. liz left to every Judge,
within certain limits, to regulate the
practice in his own court. This
':practice" over which the judge has
control is alike in no two circuits 10
the state, and no new y elected Judge
adopts the "practice" Of his prede-
cessor, He always amends it, and
makes it more IN accordance with
his own ideas OF doing things. When
new Judge is elected the lawyers
are all sat sea- as to how the judge
will proceed in this case, or that, and
this uncertainty frequently causes
DELAYS and expense. The "practice'
of Judge Mills is we'll known, and
whether it is perfect or not, it has
that quality Of certainty" which IS
SO desirable in all things pertaining
to the administration Of Justice
Again. whenever, lawyer is elevated
TO the bench the business in the cir
cult, and especially in his county,
is greatly disturbed. lie can hear
none of the cases in which be has
been interested as counsel, and the
parties, attorneys, and witnesses, are
at the great expense and trouble OF
travelling to another circuit to have
the cases tried.
These considerations, and others
that might be mentioned, incline me
to believe that the best interest OF all
of us requires that we should reject
Judge Mile, if he will again accept
the position, as, Judging from his
public letter, suppose he will.
+. b.
WHEN the farmer looks over the
following comparison of present