Ellsworth American., 1878-04-11
Correspondence.
Letters from Washington.
SUPREME COURT Room.
W ASKING rpN. II. e. Anrii = 1879

WASHING ron. ID. G. April ,. 1873 I
To the Arasrteda While waiting my
turn 10 address the Court, II has occurred
n tne that 3 short letter about the Su-
preTne Court of the United States OF Ancr-
ics, may not be uninteresting TO the read
ers of the AMERICAN. Its present Room
i the old Senate Chamber. and Is full OF
memories of Webster. Clay. Calhoun. Ben
ton, and other Senatorial giants of former
DAYS. There is pointed out the place where
each had his seat. am writing near the
spot wher. Webster is said to have stood
when making his immortal reply To
Hsyre.
The room I. semi-circular. IL Is richly
finished with columns and pilssters Of Tie
mos; beautiful variegated marble. !, rs
very plainly. but comfortably furnished -
The Court occupy the Bench ou the
straight side oi the Chamber. The Bsr
occupy .emi-circular enclosure 10 front
of the Beach, while the outer circle T. for
the public. The CLERKS are At one end Of
the Bench. aud the Marshars officers az
the other.
The members OF the Bar having hn.i
ness for the dav. assemble a little before
noon. aud precisely $, noon the Mar.hlr>
officcr gives three rsps which brin. the
LAWYERS :" their feet The officer then
prociaims - 'rte . Honorable. the chief
Justice. and the Associate Justices OF the
Supreme Court Of the Cnucd States In
mediately. another oilicvr enters. = scortiug
the nine Judges. each Of whom wears the
traditional six gown. The Judges arrange
themselves each in front OF hi. seat. and
then all bow to the lawyers, who have all
remained standing The lawyers return
the bow, and then all take their seats Tse
officer then ptoclaim-.-"Ail persons hav-
ing any business in thi, Honorable Court.
may now draw near. and they shall bc
heard. tor thi, Court j. now sitting. God
ave the United States OF America. and
thi. Honorable Court The Chief Justice
AZ once proceeds to business A It T.
pgrely Law Court. the only business Of
tue session i To hear motions aad argu-
ment~, and read opinions. This last {. on
ly done on Mondays.
The Chief Justice sits In the centre. ara
the Associate justices are arranged on
either side, according to the date Of their
commissions. At the right OF the Chief.
sits clifford OF Maine. who i now the zen.
ior Justice 10 commission. On the left II
the Chief i SwaNue OF Ohio. the next IN
date. Then al tiifford's right i Miller Of
fornia- GA Miller's right j Strong OF
Pennsylvania. Then on the len comes
Bradley OF New Jersey. on the extreme
riaht i Hunt cf New YORK. and - iha av-
ireme len i Harlan of heutucky the new
spPointee. They are all large men. aud
are decidedly imposing in their six robes.
\ country lawyer msy be excused tor some
nervousness on addressing them Tor the
nrst time.
Tn. first business in the morning is the
admission of candidates to the Bar. and
any morning one may see candidate. from
widely distant States standing together.
and placing their hands together on the
small bible. to take the oath. All oAths
| here are taken by holding the bible. aud
{ aiterwArd Kissing il. The morning / wa.
/ admitted. gentleman from Alsbama and
I one from California, bad hold OF the same
+ bible with me.
Next come the motions. such A. TO di.-
miss,-for mandaics.-for amendment
{ for assignment. etc. These are speedily
[ refused or graIied, when The Chief says
NJ f.h
Z gumeni." ia case Mr.. A had no, finished
al the Adjournment. when case /. hn-
i,het aud new case taken up. tie Chief
simply states the number and name uf the
new case, And says. Mr.. Il the counsel
4 for Plaintiff the Court will hear you. -
Mr.. b therefore begins. When hc Oh.
ishes, the Chiei bows TO the opposing
counsel, who starts of at one In his argu-
ment- The judges listen very patiently
aud courteously. but eohdue the lawyer 10
his case. and @iIl not allow him much ii0-
erty OF DEPRESSION. A lawyer must thor
oughly know ail the points and principles
Involved In his case. tor the judges are
much given 10 que.tionins 4 through the
arguments. Most lawyer. Ike this. for il
shows that the judges are listening. and
taking ia the argument The questioning
stimulates, for the Judges never ask a
question 10 crush lawyer, but rather TO
draw him out, aud make him elaborate
aud Illustrate. Two hours are allowed
each side, but this time may De enlarged in
important cases.
On Mondays. the first thing ls the
readiog Of opinions. The junior begins
first and 20 on mp 10 the Chief who reads
last After each opinion is read a judge
dissenting. il there be one. will state the
grounds OF his dissent, and announce
what other Judges. II any dissent on The
same grounds. The opinion read, however
has been agreed upon by majority and
stands as iAe opinion of the Court. Some
times the dissent will be stated sharply.
aud spicily, showing that these judges
| have some fire. LAST Monday, an opinion
vas read One judge dissented on one
, ground. Another Judge dissented on an
other, aud different ground, and the Chief
brought up the rear, with the pirhy state
ment II dissent in toto" The lawyers
chuekled audibly.
, This tourt has no distinctive Bar OF Its
! own. though no lawyer can be recognized
unless he be regularly admitted bv this
Court. We. in Maine. speak of everything
by Counties. = oh lawyer ID q member
II the Cumberland Bar, or Hancock Bar
Here everything is located by States.
Such Il LAWYER is OF the Maine Bar-or the
. ! ulinnl. Bar Th. Bar here a. n hnle