New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-10-09
NEW.JERSEY'S JUDICIAL SYSTEM.
A REFORM MOVEMENT TO ABOLISH ANTIQUArED
AND CUMBERSOME METHODS.
D., % Ma, haa inf Tod

A REFORM MOVEMENT TO ABOLISH ANTlQUATED
AND CUMBERSOME METHODS.
The Bar Association Of Newark has appointed
a special committee TO report upon the question OF
change judicial 81 stem of the State. The New
Jersey legal profession nearly unit in sentiment
specting the desrabihty " such change Two years
ago legislative commission took testimony FROM Lead
Ing lawyers to the necessity Of making the required
changes organic law. and the evidence almost
wholly in favor OF revolution In the present system.
In New-Jersey the divided noaw and equity
courts There Court OF Errors consisting OF sixteen
Judges Of whom nine circuit judges
to be corrected Each of these judges is Judge
the Orphans Court, Judge Of the Common Pleas Judge
the Quarter Sessions and Judge OF the oyer and Ter
MINER He Is the sole judge OF the circuit aud Judge OF
supreme Court and can hold the circuits and sit In
hAno judge OF the court OF last resort and with
legal brethren has majority OF that court The Chan
ceo representing the equity courts Is also the bench
of Appeals and the remaining six judges OF this court
are aymen who have had no education In law, In ad-
dton these judges there are sixty judges OF the nie-
ror courts OF Common Pleas with various powers aud
duties aud "a Chaneeor's Court with Chancellor, two
Vice Chahceors and nine Advisory Masters who have
some VI the functions OF YceChancelors The law aud
the equity courts 1.-THE latter represented by the Chan
Gerry Courts have separate Jurisdiction The system
modelled upon English judicial institutions that have
long ago been reformed or abolished, that 1t is said
that tue NewJersey judicial system more Englsh To-
day than the present system OF civil justice IN England
IL proposed by eminent lawyers OF tue state TO abO
ian the Court OF Errors, Court OF Chancery and the
Supreme Court 6s now constituted, aud TO substitute
judicial districts each 10 be presided over by Judge
having law and equity jurisdiction, and nDappellae
court be called the Supreme Court Of Appeals,
sistng ofthree judges who shall not he members Oi any
other court An appeal should lie from the District
Courts to the supreme Court Changes Ia the lower
also suggested TO simplify the administration
OF civil Justice The 0alut against the judicial sys
the Stale OF Icing standing IL is shown that ts
processes cumbersome expensive and full or delays
Litigation neodessy prolonged for years, and such
the eXpedlents ID when wealthy ana determined ad-
yeIsary resort In lighting a SUIT that many
persons choose TO suDmit to injustice and wrong
rather than upon OF litigation whose oost
in the end might make his original loss insignrcGnt.
Lawyers are In lsrge measure at the mercy OF tie
the latter and they hesitate TO take any step that might
prejudice the standing OF their cases IN the courtg.
During the sitting OF the commission years ago
Judge Teese. OF Newark, Henry c. Pney OF N orrts-
town. and other leading members of the bar most
emphatic and sweeping IN their condemnation OF the
existing judicial system, which be properly reformed
only by amending tue Constitution OF the State.