The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1880-03-04
CIRCUIT JUDGE.

III tulS IS5uS Vi LHE ILOI Will Do
found q call for a convention for the
nomination of Judge of the Fourth Ju-
dates have been frequently mentioned in
this paper and we do not propose in this
article to discuss chances or express
preferences. 1t is considered trespass
upon the propriety which custom has
established, for newspaper to champion
the pretensions of any one until con-
vention determines the choice of the
party. Recognizing the law derived
from custom in this particular, it may
be that opposition to any aspirant is also
going beyond the limitation imposed.
But in opposing Judge McLean's nomi-
nation Ne but second the effort of every
member of the Manitowoc county bar.
The character of justice is SO sacred
that those who administer it should be
far above the level of criticism. The
people of America are SO lenient to slight
and infrequent errors of Judgment on the
part of judges, SO well disposed toward
those who hold the scales of Justice, that
it is seldom one hears judges assailed as
other officers are. The unanimity of the
bar of this county in opposing the nomi.
nation of Judge Mclean should incline
people to study his official acts to deter
mine if there is aught there deserving of
censure. AS criticism of Judge is not
iustifiad by trivial unuoual dolinauou-
cies, neither should the opposition of
lawyers influence the people unless based
on incontestable grounds. We have
heard from lawyers of this city of de.
cisions rendered and rulings made by
Judge Mclean well calculated to destroy
confidence in his ability as lawyer, and
is his integrity as Judge. Add to this
his record as circuit judge in the SUI
preme court. No other circuit Judge in
the state has had so many cases reversed.
Reversals are the rule and not the ex-
ception in cases of appeal from the
Fourth Circuit during Judge McLean's
incumberency. So numerous are they
that even the dignifed judges of the su-
preme court, usually so reticent, have
been forced to make unfavorable COM
ments. Decisions have been rendered in
defiance of express statutes, and in the
teeth of decisions of the supreme court.
Cases have been preiudged because of
the standing of one of the litigants or the
the representations of outside parties. -
Assurances have been given after hear
ing, of what the decisions would be, and
then the form of taking case under ad-
visement gone through with. In appeals
from the county board in the matter of
claims, the decisions have been invariably
against the county, and as directly in
violation of the statutes. Fees have
been allowed to lawyers without color of
law and with little justice. He is lacking
in that dignity which preserves the re-
spect earned in pursuing an honorable
line of conduct In him the arts of the
politician overshadow the dignity of the
judge.
This is n severe arraignment and
should receiva attention from the
people of the circuit. No curse is
greater than an unjust or incompetent
Judge. We have no personal dislike for
judge Mclean but we deem it our duty
to give publicity to facts which affect the
vital interests of the people. The char
acter of a man who aspires to position
on the bench should undergo the clos
est scrutiny and if he be lacking
IN honesty, in ability, or in any
OF the qualities essential to the proper
discharge of any of these delicate duties
devolving upon judge he should be re-
Jected with the scorn which his unfitness
deserves. 4 judge should be influenced
by no motives but desire to render JUS
tice between the parties who must ap-
peal to him. He should be man
above preiudices, of such purity of char
acter as to be above suspicion, of such
integrity as to make dishonesty quail,
and of such stern virtue as to repel the
advances of those who would corrupt.