Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1880-02-19
bar sirstlnr.

A<t$s <r&S1tAbAs
A meeting of the members of the
Bar of Gallia County was held at the
Court House on Friday evening. The
following gentlemen were present: Hon.
S. 5. Knowles, Hon. John Cartright,
Hon. Joseph Bradbury, S. A. Nash,
Esq, Hon. D. B. Hebard, c. w. White,
Esq, Simeon Nash, w. III. Harvey,
Benjamin Martin, C. NJ. Holcomb, e.
w. Bird, II. w. Hampton, w. C. II.
Ecker, r. s. Waddell, A. J. Green,
Alexander Vance, r. E. Dunn and
Charles c. -Aleshire,
On motion of S. A. Nash, Esq, Hon.
Joseph Bradbury was chosen chairman,
who stated that the meeting was called
for the purpose Of getting an express
sion of the Bar, as to what was best 10
be done to relieve and aid the Supreme
Court in dispOsing of the large number
OF cases pending before it; that from
his personal knowledge the Supreme
Court, although the Judges were all
able and untiring in their endeavors 10
dispose Of the docket, was utterly made
quate to do speedy justice to the vast
number of litigants in the State and
that the docket was constantly increas-
ing. The chair favored an increase in
the number of judges of the Supreme
Court, stating that he believed that
under the constitution, the number
thereof might be increased, and said
that the uncertainty of getting the
people to vote for a constitutional
amendment, and the lapse of time be-
fore an amendment could be adopted,
even If voted for by people, did not
promise the early relief that was de-
manded.
Upon motion of T. w. Hampton,
ESQ.,, Charles C. Aleshire was chosen
Secretary.
Judge Knowles was then called upon
for his views. The Judge said that it
was Important that something should
be done TO relieve and advance the
business devolying upOu the Supreme
Court; that the docket of that COnrt Is
increasing; that the District Court
furnishes little relief, as all cases can
go to the Supreme Court on error; that
it would be well to fix a Limitation on
cases being taken from the District to
| the Supreme Court, but to do this, there
must he reliable District Court, one
in which there would be confidence; {;
that it was advisable that the District
Court should be so constituted, that the
Judge who sat at the trial below, should
not be q memer OF the District Court
that reviews the same case. A penalty,
the Judge thought, does not limit the
number of cases that go TO the Supreme
| Court.
The Judge continuing, said: There
are two remedies; first, TO adopt con-
stitutiOnal provision for District
Court, composed of Judges to be elected
| to be known as District Judges, to hold
a District Court IN each county OF the
State once a year; or second, 10 In
crease the number of Supreme Judges,
| so that one Supreme Judge may always
be in attendance at the District Court,
which shall be composed of one Su-
| preme, and two Common Pleas Judges.
excluding the Common Pleas Judge
who sat at the trial below. And make
| the District Court find the facts so as
to save the Supreme Court this trouble,
and the case taken TO the Supreme
Court on error, from such findings.
The Judge suggested that il the
members OF the Bar throughout the
State would interest themselves in the
matter, that both political parties might
| be induced to unite upon the passage
of constitutional amendment creating
such District Court as he had men,
toned. 1t would be adopted and would
| perhaps be the most acceptable to the
Bar, and be the most beneficial.
In conclusion, the Judge stated that
the Legislature desired an expression
of opinion from the members of the
Bar throughout the State, regarding
this important matter; that he had re-
ceived letters to this effect from several
members of the Legislature, urging
their views as basis of operation.
S. A. Nash, Esq, being called upon
said:
1t seems impossible to pass COnstitu-
tiOnal Amendment, and we need not
| look for relief from that source.
At a recent meeting of the Cincinnati
Bar the matter was considered, and the
idea of increasing the number Of Su-
preme Judges seemed to meet with fa-
vor, and am not sure but that would
be the surest and speediest wav out of
the difficulty; but we do not want here
to suggest any particular plan, but to
act In concert with members of the Bar
elsewhere throughout the State, so that
| the matter may be referred to some eff
the best legal minds of the State, and
let them suggest such a plan as their
| wisdom and experience may dictate.
With Judge Knowles, | think Judge
Ranney'S plan the best: to send two of
| the Judges Of the Supreme Court around
the State to hold District Courts; in this
! plan, you carry out the original plan of
| our Judiciary System; but do not sug-
| gest any plan. / want It's to act IN
concert with the members of the Bar
elsewhere, SO as to secure some relief.
Hon. John Cartwright, Of Meigs conn
| ty, being requested to express his views
concerning the matter, said: That he
| thought the reason why the COnstitu-
tional Amendments to revise our Judi
clary System, heretofore. submitted to
| the people, had been voted down, was
because Of being loaded down with 9TH
er provisions, and was of opinion that
| simple proposition, the one suggested
by Judge Ranney, if submitted to a vote,
would be carried without any trouble.
! He said the object was not TO relieve
the Supreme Court, but it was neces-
sity for the relief of the people. the
| litigants, and upon this ground he
thought the voters could easily be con-
vinced of the necessity and importance
of such Constitutional provision.
5. A. Nash, Esq, then offered the fol-
lowing resolution, which was unani-
mously adopted:
Resolred, That Committee of three
be appointed to correspond with the At
tornies of the counties composing (this)
the Third Subdivision of the Seventh
Judicial District, concerning the matter
| under consideration, and If said Com
mittee deem meeting advisable, to ap-
point delegates to attend said meeting,
and make all necessary arrangements
for the holding thereof.
Whereupon the Chair appointed as
said Committee, S. A. Nash, Esq, and
Hon. ID. B. lIebard, and at the sngges-
zion of several members Of the Bar, the