The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-04-13

Haraw,th wa publish the message OF GOVERN
ar Cromwell. commenting on our Juniciary
.vs.em. The view taken by the Governor Is
40 ,no,o,ghly IN accord with those heretofore
n,o,ouIsatsd IN this journal, and especially as
TO ths great number OF Districts, that we
gladly e,vs the document place. Tins matter
i,oe vital importance TO the people OF the state,
ami ws are glad that the Governor has Been ut
~ iake a leading part in the discussion and
axpress Lis views in 80 decided and thorough
manner
phe multiplication OF Judicial Districts has
beeo carried TO an extent entirely uDlustihed
oy tho needs OF the public. Districts ridicu-
iousy email have been created, apparently TO
furnish some lawyer Judgeship, and in which
ther, WAS sufficient business. barely to make
fair show. by a system of nursing that Is fraud
upoc tbe pubic.
Take this judicial Circuit, composed OF the
counhsn OF kalamazoo and Van Buren,, and
ioou al the business and the manner 1t Is done,
and you will be surprised that so small an
amount can be spread over so great space OF
tms We understand that in Kalamazoo
county one term contains almost to the open
ing OF Che succeeding term, and cases drag
aAong from term to term without any apparent
reason. unless II be that it is not convenent
for tho attorneys to push them just then,
Ihey 90 over and appear on the next calendar,
giving an appearance or much business FOR
that term when in fact many OF the cases have
como down from term to term, simply because
tho bar had business III some other court and
choee 60 let his cases go over. In this way
haa hpQn mt ad
on the people and the standard OF courts
lowered IN public estimation.
IN our own county the same condition seems
90 have provided. The present March term Is
apparently continuation OF the January term,
at.which scarcely any business was done, al
though Che cost to the people was nearly as
great az though the terms work had been DIS
posed OF then and there.
.We hold that this judicial Circuit should be
increased 70 at least twice Its present size,
winch would bs none too large for one ener-
getic, thorough going Judge. The business
would tie much more promptly disposed of and
not allowed to accumulate as it now does, for
the sample reason that the Judge would have
but little tune to waste by killing time to make
snow OF business.
he JUDICIAL CIRCUITS.
n bal, has been presented to me which origi-
mated ~ your House, and passed both houses
of tho Legislature, entitled. ''An act to re-
organize the Eighteenth judicial Circuit and
create che Twenty third Judicial Circuit, winch
! have not returned, but N accordance with a
provision OF the constitution have suffered to
become law without my approval.
For some reason, Of which am not apprised,
the proposed new circuit IS designated as the
Twenty third, when IN fact it should be the
Twenty-second. there being at tho present
twenty -ono circuits in the State, exclusive oil
threo special judges IN cities, whose courts are
vested with powers similar to those OF the cir
cult courts,
In adopting the course l nave. i deem it iii
and proper that / should make known to tbt
Leg stature the special reason for my proceed
ing IN this regard, so that my action may no
be nj sconstrued or mistaken TO be III any Wis
the sanction OF policy which J do not ap
provo
Ia my communication made to you at th
Opening OF the session | took occasion to ex
press Tie opinion tLat the judicial circuits o
Che State ought TO be reorganized 30 as to &c
curo more equal division OF tho labor OF th
iudgcs was confident that while som
Y,dcer had moro work imposed upon ther
dian they ought 20 do others had less thu
should he required OF them. To properly &C
Iusi these differences Il seemed 10 me this
ssouie new srcaug emeDt of the judicial circuit
efford che desired relief. / was aware that th
number OF circuits could not be reduced unit
sfter The end of ;he term Of Office for who
the present Judges were elected, and | wa
likewise conscious that srch circuits could NJ
beIeasranged so as TO affect the tenure
Office of any OF the judges. Still il appeaTe
20 me chat more equal adjustment than II
present one might be made by detachn
certain counties where the labor was grea
and attaching them TO others where there WI
less 20 10 ] felt that this course would r
iieve Che overworked judges and not increa'
CIRCUITS OF multiply Offices for which the
seemed no imperative necessity. ] OF ii
same opinion still, and all the facts and CT
culnstanca. which / have been enabled
gather within the brief time since this bill WI
presented to me for signature have only serve
toetreDgthen and confirm me AZ this view.
am not alone in tho conviction that We ha'
already too many judicial circuits IN the Stat
and That r reduction instead OF an increase
desirable One of the most experienced al
able circuit Judges has recently said: - ayr
fully with those who believe that we have
ready COO large number OF crcuits and il 81
State could be redstrlcted aud a moderate
reasonable compensation made to the circr
judgee. am satisfied that the number mig
properly be reduced" Another talented al
accomplished circuit judge speaking, as
sage, from his own knowledge of four circul
Of the State declare that lin none OF them
tho time OF the judge occupied for more TIT
half the yea"
IN Ills la5l mtssape Wv Ddbieg say
''Gcptlemen who have lately filled the posIti
OF Judge in some OF the circuits have assur
me That they could have transacted all /
business with ease had the district be
doubled"
Jf five circuit judges IN 1850 when the por
lation Of the STATE was about one third what
is now when the facilities for travelling we
not nearly 30 good as they are now when
bus,nees Of the courts was1 not facilitated
stenographers and other means now in III
could do the entire judicial business OF {
circuit courts OF the State. as well as all
business OF the Supreme Court, It would SCI
as though twenty-four judges might easily
compIish the work of the circuits now. especi
w in view Of the fact that the business OF I
supreme Court is entirely divorced from [
circuit Judges. The records and calendars
the circuit courts are themselves evidence Il
all the work imposed upon the circuit judf
might be done easily and without any hardsl
Whatever II there was proper adjustment a
moro equal division thereof
While some OF the counties have from thl
TO four hundred cases at each term on
calendar, with forty to fifty trials, other col
ties have less than thirty cases all told a
not more than from five to ten triaIs