The weekly clarion., 1880-05-26
The Supreme Judgeship.

EDS. CLARIoN--A considerable amount of has
ty, if not premature discussion of the qualif
cations of persons for the future vacancy to oc-
cur in the Supreme Court of the State has been
going on for several months past. That vacan-
cy will not occur until the 9th day of March,
1881, when Judge George will when he accepts
the office of [. s. Senator, vacate his Office as
one Of the judges of the SHpreme Court. Until
that time and event shall come to pass, no va
cancy exists, and there is, of course, none to
fill.
Really, there is not much to be properly said
about it. The great dignity of the Office, and
the high character of those who have hitherto
worn the judicial ermine in this our high court
of justice, will impress upon the Cover or
who makes the appointment, the utmost care
and caution in selecting a gentleman VIII ose
Intellectual and moral stature will command
once the fullest confidence and respect Of
the Bar of the State. No man can command
such confidence and respect, unless he pos
sesses in fact, and in public appreciation,
great legal learning, practical knowledge as a
lawyer, and a moral purity and integrity that
Is above suspicion.
Mississippi is fortunate in possessing,
as she always has done, many such law
yers, and there will be no difficulty in find
ing some judge or lawyer who possess
es the qualities demanded by the
office. Other things being equal of course it
will be proper to givethe preference TO locali-
ty and make the appointment from the South
ern division of the State. But if this divis-
ion does not possess a lawyer superior or
equal to some lawyer in another division of
the State, then the claims of locality must
yield 10 higher considerations. 1t would be a
great misfortune to lower, by an unfit appoint
ment, the lofty character of this high court.
Ii is not my purpose to name or recommend
any gentleman for that Office. We have had
partisan, and stipendiary laudations of one
or perhaps more aspirants for the position
which sufficient to disgust an enlightened
people, and to excite general contempt for any
lawyer who would seek to boast himself in
such candidacy, by newspaper laudations. 1t
is al office as to which eGadiddeu is not even
tolerated by an enlightened public sentiment
But write this mainly to make a suggestion.
Il is undoubtedly true, that the people do not
know who are the fttest persons TO hold judi
cial of1ces. For this reason, and to prevent
the indecency ofcsndidacy for judicial Offices, |
our constitution makes all judicial Offices nom
elective, and this is the wisest feature in our |
In some States where the Office is elective |
he selection of the Judges is by general CON
sent left TO the lawyers of the State, who alone
know the httest members of their profession /
L, therefore, suggest two modes by which t
he Governor might properly take advice if I
ittest appointment. He might request each
practising lawyer in the State to write to him
laming the Lawyer or Judge, who, lin his opin-
on, is the fttest one for Office This would
pinion of the Bar throughout the State and
could not fail 10 indicate clearly the fittest
'erson or persons for the Office.
The other mode l suggest il that the Gov
rnOr ask the advice of the Judges now consti-
Uting the Supreme Court. They are really
be best judy es of the matter, and they are en-
irely disinterested. They sit in constant re-
lew of the decisions of the Judges and Chan
ellors throughout the State and they well
now which of these are the fttest. They
ear and read the arguments made before
hem by all the able lawyers of the State, and
1ey best know which of these lawyers are the
blest. Either of these modes, or both of them [
,gether would indicate beyond doubt the
test appointment to be made
hare nc doubt, that our wise and careful !
oYernor will make an excellent appointment J
pom his own judgment slone; have no doubt