The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-06-29

by public opinion in letters OF living
fire upon their characters.
THE SUPREME COURT or LOUISIANA
AS A RETORMATORY TRIBUNAL.
Our Supreme Court. during It's recent
session in this city, discharged with
oonsummate ability the principal duty
OF its mission-that Of correcting, 70.
versing and reproving many OF the out.
RACES OF It's predecessor, which have
brought 30 much disgrace upon the Judi
oial history Of Our State during the last
ten years, The darkest chapter of the
history Of the reign OF Kadioalism ia
this State ID that which records the ju-
dioal sanctions given to the oorruptions
and frauds OF the public officials who
for 80 many years fattened upon the State
and oppressed the people. There was
no possibility OF arresting the mis-
deeds Of these officials 80 long % such
courts existed as were created by War
moth and Kellogg.
It has been Herculean labor to
cleanse the Temple Of Justice, which had
been polluted by every form Of political
and moral filth. Our present Supreme
Judges have. however, proved equal to
this great task. We regret the delay
In the publication OF the official report
OF their decisions during their last term,
as 1t deprives us Of the qualification Of
presenting to til, people review there
Of in illustration Of the extent Of their
reformatory labors, and Of the high tone
Of morality. integrity and justice which
pervades ell their judgments.
| The style Of these decisions gives addi-
tional strength to the sentiments OF equi-
ty. honor and virtug which they express
They embody admonitions to inferior
judges. TO lawyers and to ltigants, which
ought not to be limited In their circula-
ton to the professional and litigious
classes, utshould be- given to the whole
people for their moral guidance In
this view we regard our Supreme Judges
as occupying the position assigned by
the Romans to the Censors OF
.cnstodes mor,tn,. II is especially incum-
bent upon the Judges Of our Supreme
Court to guard well the honor and mo-
rality Of the Bar and protect tho people
from the possible abuse Of their great
power and influence over the masses
In not few cases have the present
judges performed this duty with i'm.
pressive dignity and effect We happen
to have at hand two Of the opinions Of
the court wherein the Chief Justice I'D
ministers to two prominent members Of
the Radical party reproofs OF the char
acter we have indicated, and which are
we'll worthy Of publication as illustra-
tive Of the tone OF morality and sense Of
professional duty inculcated and en-
forced by the present court.
In the case of Rhoda White vs.. Mrs.
Myra Clarke Gaines, the Chief Justice
made the following singing reference
to notable member Of the bar who
was engaged last summer at the North
In making speeches and holding inter.
views with our sectional and political
enemies, wherein our people were
grossly illuminated and rnisrepre-
sented. to wit:
We listened with qualification and approval
to the oral comments OF the counsel Of tho
garnishees upon the pitiable spectacle pre-
scented to our view by the divulging by n
client Of the correspondence, Of her lawyer
with whom she had guarreed However re.
prehensible this Is 1t must be remembered
that in the present instance the necessity for
this disclosure was created by the correspon-
dent himself. He had received, or was to re-
ceive, from his client 1924, $40 u for fees, that
being the sum assigned him on the tableau Of
against the city. When 1t became necessary
to ascertain u consideration for the order Of
transfer of tho residuum of that Judgment, he
suggested "servces' as n reasonable one.
fed by her oath and his direction of her con-
science to the desired end cannot pass from
our review without mn expression Of con-
domination, and we believe 1t is an unusual
feature in the correspondence OF our profess
sional brethren with their clients TO find u
friendly suggestion that one hopes to find
some way In which the sworn statements OF
the other may be contradicted.
In the case Of Jacob Hawkins, late
Judge of the Superior District Court,
the Chief Justice thus handles the con-
duct OF Judge Lynch on the occasion Of
one Of the grossest judicial improprie-
ties ever perpe trated by q Judge:
"In this case the testimony of the crer of
the court was offered to prove his own sue
cessful attempt to bride one OF the jurors,
and, upon ascertaining that the crier had dis
appeared, the presiding Judge was offered to
prove the criers admission. that he had
slipped the piece Of paper into D'Aquin's
hand while the jury was yet undecided. The
refusal Of the Judge to grant new trial under
law. It is official misconduct, reprehensible
in all of It's phases. 1t was his duty to order
a new trial er nero motu. A Judge is
the conservator Of his court. The conserva-
ton of its purity is his first and highest func
ton 1t should not require the interposition
of counsel, or of any subordinate officer of the
court, to move the Judge promptly to repair
an injury to his own administration of justice
effected by such foul means. The knowledge
of the stain on that day and by that act
stamped upon his court was brought home to
him by protracted and repeated appeals for
its removal. His knowledge OF the facts was
attempted to be elected and, instead of max
;nxv that lad 40 tho ha sic IF an instant