Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1876-01-27
WHOLE NO. 1715.

and practical LAWYER, to discharge the duties o
judge with credit and honor
Bat legal knowledge and ability although
indispensable, and without which all oshe
elements OF fitness are yaueess on the bench
is not the only characteristic which onght /,
distinguish the perfect Judge.
His knowledge should not be limited to thl
teachings OF schools, however eminent, nor to
legal principles as expounded by the most
learned authors, nor judicial decisions, however
numerous and various, but should comprehend
other sciences, and embrace some knowledge
! of all the pursuits of the various classes OF
mankind, growing out of which controversies
| could arise, upon which it might be necessary
| for him to adjudicate, And especially should
he possess that knowledge of mankind, which
would enable him TO form ready and just
| estimate of human character in the various
phases of truth and falsehood in which il is so
often exhibited in courts of justice.
A judge should be industrious in the dis
| charge of his duties, and not permit his time,
or that of jnrors, to be needessy wasted in
unimportBnt or irrelevant examination OF
witnesses or discussion by lawyers of imma-
terial or trivial questions; that he may thereby
relieve the people of the expense of protract-
ed sessions OF the courts. At the same time
he should be patient, and listen attentvely to
everything WHICH Is calculated TO promote
justice and maintain truth
Dignity, self-respect and an orderly bearing
in all that concerns the conduct of business in
court, are essential to an effective and useful
Judiciary But these are by no means incon.
sistent with what is quite as important
kind alfable, polite and courteous treatment
Of all with whom the judge may have official
intercourse, whether suitors, jnrors, witnesses
or attorneys.
The decision Of Judge should not be made
without all the consideration and deliberation
of which the circumstances will admit nor
without all the aid which can be derived from
the argument of counsel, but when reached it
should be announced without hesitation and
adhered to with frmness, with the distinct
understanding that the decision ends all ar
gument in that court on the question decided
Nothing impairs confidence in or respect for
the competency of judge, more than that
hckleness and instability of purpose, which
will induce him to listen to an argument in
relation TO the correctness OF his own decision.
Bat Of all the elements that 60 to make up
the character of a perfect Judge possessed of
sufficient legal ability none can compare in
value with honest, upright, conscientious iustS
ice and impartiality. This trait of charac ter
is Indispensable. 1t matters little how learned,
how industrious, how patient, how dignifed
how orderly, how atlable, polite or courteous,
nor how consIderate, deliberate or firm the
judge may be; if he be deficient in these
qualities the pure scales of justice ought never
to be entrusted to his hand
| have thus presented my own Ideally of a
perfect Judge. | cannot expect, if should be
elected, to meet all its requirements but as
the archer who aims at the meridian sun,
although he miss his mark will be sure to hit
higher than though he aimed at the horizon
so by endeavoring to follow a high standard
of fitness, | should hope TO attain higher
results than if contented to be satisfied with
mediocrtY.
have said that I had an ambition to adorn
the bench, as an able, industrious, upright and
impartial judge. If by your kind confidence
you shall give me an opportunity of gratifying
that ambition, and ! should fail 10 exert to
the utmost, every faculty, intellectual and
moral, which possess, in rendering my 1is
charge of the duties of the judicial office as
crcditable to myself and as honorable to the
State, as my highest ambition would pro !;
| should Justly deserve your seyerest censure
| must say no more Perhaps | ought not
to have said so much but cannot withhold
the assurance that should it be your pleasure
to confer upon me this distinguished honor,
shall ever feel profoundly grateful, and at the
end OF the term retire forever to private
life But if majority of your votes shall
manifest preference for some other | shall
bow with submissive will, in the hope that
he may iovolope the characteristics OF my
ideal Of perfect Judge
Mineral Point, Wis, Decemucr, 1878.
MosEs VI STRoro