Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-03-30
laiirastel flttellige,1cer.
THURSDAY EvEN'a, MARCH 30. 1881.
Bench and Bar.

THURSDAY EvEN'o. MARCH 30, 1882.
Bench and Bar.
The opposition of the members of the
Philadelphia bar to Judge Briggs re-
election is becoming very formidable. 1t
numbers large majority of the bar, and,
although of course the distinguished
gentleman who is now United States at
torney general, cannot publicly partici-
pate in it the fact is well known that
Mr.. Brewster is one Of the most stead
fast opponents of Briggs reelection.
Although the Republican and Demo-
cratic lawyers have respectively held
party meetings to declare their opposi-
ton, which were participated in by
more than signed the address in favor of
Briggs, it is equally we'll known that his
Republican opponents prefer any good
Democrat to Briggs, and the Democrats
will be satisfied with any fit Repub-
lican, who can beat Briggs in the con-
vention of his party, which McManes
and other politicians are under obliga-
tions to control fer Briggs. They will
likely succeed in making him the regu-
lar party nominee, and then the Demo-
Gratis will name man whom the Com
mittee of One Hundred can endorse.
Besides his foibles and failings as a
Judge, which make him Objectionable to
the bar, the Reformers have a grievance
against Briggs on account of his recent
vote in the secret meeting of the board
Of judges, which, with those of at least
six of his associates, made James Nc
Mares, political ringster, a member of
the board of park commissioners. by
some means it has been ascertained that
one of these votes came from Briggs, and
that is sufficient justification for the COM
mittee to oppose him, as the ring, driven
from every other position of influence
and power in Philadelphia, will take re-
fugc behind the patronage of the courts,
where of all places it is most dangerous
to the public veal that they should find
it. 1t was also publicly said at the Re-
publican bar meeting that when one Of
the criminal highway cOnspirators,"
who was out on bail was running for
election officer, and Judge Briggs, who
resided in his division, had his attention
called to him, he remarked in relation
to this convicted criminal, " He is good
enough for me:'' and it Is urged that,
if ballot-box thieves and other political
offenders are to he hereafter brought to
Judgment, il is not desirable to have
Judges on the bench who are in SYM
pathy with them, especially such IS
Judge Briggs, who displays an itching
desire to hold many more than his share
of criminal courts.
Ii must be very refreshing to those
Judges and lawyers who until
lately held courts to be above the public
criticism of their bars, to contemplate the
visOr with which these Philadelphia law
yers speak out in denunciation of one Of
their judges. The meeting of the Re-
publican lawyers the other day, at the
instance of Mr.. Gibbons, declared
against "any member of the profession
who seeks 10y his personal endeavors or
solicitation to secure his own appoint
ment 10 such an Office AID resolved
apon Il committee to report the names
OF nUt less than three lawyers, " of good
Standing in the professiOn," for presen.
tation to the Republican judicial con-
veEtiol:. with recommendation that
one of them lie nominated us the Repub-
lican candidate. Although these declar-
atiOns did not by name exclude Judge
Briggs candidacy, it was understood by
all present and freely avowed that he did
not come within the requirements of the
meeting expressed in such terms.
Young Mr.. Earle was loudly applauded
when he scored Judge Briggs for saying
convicted criminal was "good
enough" candidate for public Office, and
the bold young lawyers speech was re-
ceived with equal favor when he frankly
declared that Judge Briggs has done
many things open to grave suspicion, of
which we as lawyers are fully consci-
ous,'' that he was not above suspicion of
dishonor ,and that for that reason and no
other the speaker opposed him.
For saying less than this of the local
court the editors of the INTELLIGENCER
were hailed before it and disbarred 10y
Judge Patterson, with Judge Living
stOn's assent. In the opinion delivered
in that case, which Judge Patterson said
he was authorized to say was the judg-
ment of the court, the doctrine was set
up that the imputation of a want of
integrity in the office of judge" made
out of court by a member of the bal, sub
jected him to summary disbarment. Any
declaration calculated to disturb and
prejudice the mind of the public respect
ing the impartial and just administra-
tion of distributive JUSTICE" and in that
way "doing great harm to the public as
we'll as to the court" made by an attor-
ney, was held to be such breach of
professional fidelity'' - as subjected the
attorney to he stricken from the roll. 1t
was declared that no matter how gross
the courts offending, nor how much its
derelictions tended to inflict great harm
on public society, the criticism of law
yers had such an effect "to destroy the
moral influence of the court, and to in-
pair confidence in the administra-
tion Of public justice, and thereby |
inflict great haEm on public So