The daily gazette., 1877-12-13
FIRST EDITION!.
Correspondents i'm Court.
Their Privileges, as Defined by the
Chief JuStice-7heir Latitude
Sharply Mdrked out.

Immediately after the opening OF the
afternoon session of court, yesterday, the
Chief Justice 1called the members OF ,be
bar together, ,and''dre the attention of the
court to an article that was published in
the Republican of Tuesday, by a cores
ponIent from New Castle, over the sig
nature of "A. +. F." His remarks, in
substance were as follows:
The Court wishes to call attention of
the Attorney General and the members
OF the Bar to an article which appeared
in the Delaware Republican of yester-
days issue, which is an article which
we think ought not to be passed without
notice.
Judicial tribunals and their authority
depend to great extent in the communi
ty upon the character and respect In
which they are held, and that which
tends to bring the administration of
justice into contempt as well as its ad-
ministrators, is a gross violation of the
laws Of the State and of all civilized COM
munities, and is calculated to exercise a
very pernicions influence upon society
at large. If you will examine that COM
munication, will find in it that which
think will strike your mind and that of
every good citizen of this State as an
attempt 10 degrade those who sit here
with me, and myself, down 10 the level
where our enunciation of the law would
be held by the community in ridicule.
To look at this We would suppose at the
time when this writer made his remarks
that my brother upon my right was but
a mere instrument 10 gratify people by
giving exhibitions of"waggery." Sitting
as the representative of our people in the
administration ofjustice we cannot allow
anything TO be written or said with re-
spect to us in our mode of administering
Ijustice or. of deporting ourselve on this
seat, and we call attention of yourself
and Attorney General as the prosecuting
Attorney of the State, to all such exhi-
bitions Of wit, descriptive power OF
whatever else it might be called. II
tends to lower the bench in the estima-
ton of the public, and Consequently
lowers the position which we occupy.
So far as we are concerned as men we
might allow all this to pass but wher
the effect Is to bring into contempt the
administrators of justice, then it became
very serious question as to whether no
tice ought to be taken Of ii.
The administrators of justice sit II
their places by an originally divine or
dinance, and by the people of this otatt
acting through their deputies. They arr
to be treated at all times, when in tn,
exercise of their. duties, with respect, an(
no. to be spoken of derision, contempt
scorn or ridicule. Disrespectful Language
addressed to judge sitting in his place
is contempt not really to himself, but u
the court and the power OF the peopl
expressed in the formation of their trib
unals. Anything printed or publishes
about them, thetendency Of which is t.
bring the administration of justic
|. into rldicule and contempt Is an offenc
of gross and outrageous character.
had occasion six mouths ago to refer t
, remarks that were made by one Of th
reporters whom we allowed to have
seat in this court to which he is only 81
titled by our suffrance and then sal
; that if he criticised the proceedings {
(. this court in. so far as TO bring them int
contempt, this court would eXpel hlI
: from its precincts and not allow him
lhold seat here any longer and shoGl
/. he publish or write anything that woul
I bring the coult into ridicule, that "
should levy a rule upon him to sho'
. cause as to why he should not be dea
with as one in contempt, and from on
!. decision there would be no appeal.
T We did thirk this would be warnin
!. enough, not to reporters alone, for 1t doe
a not appear that this communication EN-
anated from reporter, but to everyb bod
9 else and we speak Of It nov, with
view of warning everybody that whe!
ever they write anything rejecting
: any manner upon the practice OF tn
court with view of bringing them inl
ridicule they win be considered as
:. contempt and treated accordingly.