Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1881-03-23

MINNESOTA NEWS.
THE NEW JUDICIAL APPOINTMENT.
Personal Sketches of the New Associate
Justices Of the Supreme Court Of Minnesota,
The New Attorney General, and the New
Judge Of the Third District.
The formal announcement has been made
that the Hon. Greenleaf Clark of st. Paul and
Judge VIM. Mitchell Of Winona had been COM
missioned as supreme judges to fill the two new
seats added to the bench by the law passed at
the recent session of the legislature; that Hon.
G. M. Start, attorney general of the State, had
accepted the appointment of judge Of the Third
district made vacant by the resignation Of
Judge Mitchell, in order to accept his new po-
sition; and that Hon. VIM. J. Hahn, of Lake
City, had been appointed attorney general Of
the State, vice Start resigned Neither of the
new judges received any intimation that they
were to be called to such an exalted station un-
III the commissions were rendered them, with
the compliments Of the governor. The honor
came entirely unsolicited and unsought. The
governor selected them on account of their en-
inent fitness for the POSITIONS and possibly, (as
view Of eleyating the bench above communicating
influences of party politics. The following per-
sOnal sketches of the appOintees FROM the Pho
neer Press will serve to introduce them to such
of the people Of the State as do not already know
them:
ASSOCIATE JUSTICE GREENLEAF CLARK,
The st. Paul appointoe, first saw light in the
town of Plaisted, New Hampshire, near the Mas
sachusetts northern boundary. After the usual
common school education New England lad
IYroNo Is,
lated at the well known college of Dartmouth,
from which he graduated with honor. After
studying for a time in the office of a lawyer in
Portsmouth, he perfected his legal education,
as far as that can be done without actual prac-
ace, in the law department Of Harvard,
to Minnesota in 1858. In this city he has
Practiced law ever since and years ago attained
high rank in his profession, being especially
noted for his skill and acumen in chancery
cases. At the time of his appointment he was
member of the firm Of Bigelow, Flandrau 4
and is also serving as a member of the board
of regents of the State university. In politics
Judge Clark is regarded as decidedly indie
pendent, though his bent is toward the princi-
pies of the Republican party. His appoint
ment has givon most thorough satisfaction
to his brother members on the bench, and
with them he will heartily affiliate from the
commencement of his term of service. He is
an excellent jurist, and q we'll poised man. He
is about forty-fve years of age, and bachelor.
ASSOCIATE JUSTICE VIM. MITCHELL
is native of Canada, but his parents removed
to Pennsylvania when he was quite young. He
graduated with honor at Pennsy1vania and
afterwards studied law with Judge Wilson of
Parkersburg. Virginia. who was the father OF
Eugene NJ Wilson Of Minneapolis: Judge
began the practice of his profession, becoming
associated with the late Daniel 8. Norton, and
later forming partnership with the Hon.
". H. Yale. He was member
OF the second &c; nd State legislature in lS5960
was his eminent fitness for the position, ali
the attorneys of the Third judicial district
united in request to Judge Mitchell to allow
the use of his name as candidate for the
judgship Of that district He was finally in-
duced to consent, though he made great Pc
cuniary sacrifice in doing so as he had
was not nominated in convention, but
stood as an independent candidate
and was elected without opposition. After he
had served tie term Of seven years be again
unanimously, there not being = single vote
against him. In the mind Of every attorney
and citizen in southern Minnesota, he is the
ideal Of what true lawyer and upright judge
should be-: Judge Mitchell is forty-eight years
old, is q fine-looking gentleman, of medium
married twice, and has a large family.
He was appointed by Gov Pillsbury
without any Knowledge or solicitation on his
own part The first intimation he had of his
appointment was when Attorney General Start
rendered him the commission with the COVER
nor's compliments. After good deal OF hest
tation he finally accepted the position Judge
Mitchell is not partisan, being classed as an
Independent Democrat As prominent law
yer said last evening, the bench and bar of the
how a% -
the bench above politics, which the people Of
the State will do well to follow at the mex,
election.
JUDGE G. M. START
Ia much older gentleman than he looks to be.
having been born at Bakersfield. vt. in 1899
He was left to make his own way in the world
at an age when most boys are devoting their at.
tentlon to their toys, and is self-made and
self-educated man. He taught school at the
age of sixteen, and five years later, in 1860,
was admitted to the bar at St. Adams, Vt: He
came to Minnesota in the fall of 1868 in hopes
OF improving his health, and settled at Roches
ter, where he formed a law partnership with
Hon. y. f. Stearns. now judge of the Duluth dis.
trict, and afterwards associated himself with A.
L. Cove Hewas elected prosecuting attorney OF
Olmsted county in 1867, and was thrice re-
elected, serving four terms in all. He was
elected attorney general in the fall of 1879.
Gen. Start, though quite popular in Olmsted
county, was not so we'll known at the capital
until after his election as attorney general.
Since then Gov. Pillsbury has become most
favorably impressed with his ability as a law.
YER and with the depth and soundness of his
judgment It therefore gave him great pleas.
ure to be able to appoint Gen. Start to an
office which he is so we'll qualified to FILL Gen.
Start has large private law practice which
the duties of the attorney generals Office did
not compel him to relinqulsh, as those of the
judicial position will; and it was was this fact
probably, that led to his hesitaney in accepting
the seat on the bench.
ATTORNEY GENERlL W. J. HAHN
First saw the light in Griffin county, Pa,
November $, 1884,: He lived on q